Vatican officials have expressed their “profound concern” for the plight of Christians in the Middle East, following the recent conflict in the Gaza Strip between Israel and Hamas.

Cardinal Leonardo Sandri and Archbishop Antonio Maria Veglio have sent a letter to bishops across the world, requesting a contribution for the Holy Land.

In the letter they spoke of how Pope Benedict XVI “constantly comforts Christians, and all the inhabitants of the Holy Land, with special words and gestures, coupled with his desire to make a pilgrimage in the historical footsteps of Jesus", reports the Italy-based Adnkronos International.

"The wounds opened by violence make the problem of emigration more acute, inexorably depriving the Christian minority of its best resources for the future," the letter read.

The clergymen also warned that, "The land that was the cradle of Christianity risks ending up without Christians."

During the conflict in Gaza, which broke out last December and spilled into January, over 1,330 Palestinians were killed and 5,400 were injured. The destruction of the conflict has left many people without shelter, food or water, according to aid agencies and the UN.

Both sides were accused of breaching conventional rules of war during the conflict. Hamas, which is officially recognised as a terrorist organisation, was accused of deliberately using Palestinians as human shields in order to increase the civilian body count and so bring more international condemnation upon Israel.

Israel was accused of using white phosphorous weapons in civilian areas, which is illegal under international law.

The Pope is set to visit Israel and the Palestinian territories from 8 to 15 May.