Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, has called for an end to the war between Israel and Gaza, saying that “more death and destruction” will “only increase hatred and resentment.”
The Catholic Cardinal said that “it takes courage to be able to demand justice without spreading hatred. It takes courage to ask for mercy, to reject oppression, to promote equality without demanding uniformity, while remaining free.”
He said that 5,000 people had now been killed in Gaza following the declaration of war by Israel in response to the brutal incursion by Hamas on October 7th, and added that “it is time to stop this war, this senseless violence”.
“My conscience and moral duty require me to state clearly that what happened on Oct. 7 in southern Israel is in no way permissible and we cannot but condemn it. There is no reason for such an atrocity. Yes, we have a duty to state this and to denounce it. The use of violence is not compatible with the Gospel, and it does not lead to peace. The life of every human person has equal dignity before God, who created us all in his image,” the prelate said.
“The same conscience, however, with a great burden on my heart, leads me to state with equal clarity today that this new cycle of violence has brought to Gaza over 5,000 deaths, including many women and children, tens of thousands of wounded, neighborhoods razed to the ground, lack of medicine, lack of water and of basic necessities for over 2 million people,” he continued.
“These are tragedies that cannot be understood and which we have a duty to denounce and condemn unreservedly. The continuous heavy bombardment that has been pounding Gaza for days will only cause more death and destruction and will only increase hatred and resentment.”
“It will not solve any problem but rather create new ones. It is time to stop this war, this senseless violence.”
He described the current conflict as “one of the most difficult and painful periods in our recent times and history”.
“For over two weeks now, we have been inundated with images of horrors, which have reawakened ancient traumas, opened new wounds, and made pain, frustration, and anger explode within all of us. Much seems to speak of death and endless hatred. So many “whys” overlap in our minds, adding to our sense of bewilderment,” he said.
“The whole world views this Holy Land of ours as a place that is a constant cause of wars and divisions. That is precisely why it was good that a few days ago, the whole world joined us with a day of prayer and fasting for peace.”
“It was a beautiful view of the Holy Land and an important moment of unity with our Church. And that view is still there. Next Oct. 27, the pope has called for a second day of prayer and fasting, so that our intercession may continue. It will be a day that we will celebrate with conviction. It is perhaps the main thing we Christians can do at this time: pray, do penance, intercede. For this, we thank the Holy Father from the bottom of our hearts.”
He called for a peace process that addressed the root problem in the conflict, saying the international community needed to give it “more serious commitment”.
“It is only by ending decades of occupation and its tragic consequences, as well as giving a clear and secure national perspective to the Palestinian people that a serious peace process can begin. Unless this problem is solved at its root, there will never be the stability we all hope for,” the Cardinal wrote.
“The tragedy of these days must lead us all, religious, political, civil society, international community, to a more serious commitment in this regard than what has been done so far. This is the only way to avoid other tragedies like the one we are experiencing now. We owe it to the many victims of these days and to those of years past. We do not have the right to leave this task to others.”
He said that Jesus won the world by loving it, not by seeking victory over others.
“It was on the cross that Jesus won: not with weapons, not with political power, not by great means, nor by imposing himself. The peace he speaks of has nothing to do with victory over others. He won the world by loving it. It is true that a new reality and a new order begin on the cross. The order and the reality of the one who gives his life out of love. With the Resurrection and the gift of the Spirit, that reality and that order belong to his disciples. To us. God’s answer to the question of why the righteous suffer is not an explanation but a Presence. It is Christ on the cross.”
Referring to the Israeli missile blast on a building in the campus of the Greek Orthodox Church of St. Porphyrius in Gaza City he said: “I pray for us all, and in particular for the small community of Gaza, which is suffering most of all. In particular, our thoughts go out to the 18 brothers and sisters who perished recently and to their families whom we know personally.”
“Their pain is great, and yet with every passing day, I realize that they are at peace. They are scared, shaken, upset, but with peace in their hearts. We are all with them, in prayer and concrete solidarity, thanking them for their beautiful witness.”
“Finally, let us pray for all innocent victims. The suffering of the innocent before God has a precious and redemptive value because it is united with the redemptive suffering of Christ. May their suffering bring peace ever closer” he wrote.
There were “at most 1,000 Christians residing in Gaza” in 2019, according to report. Cardinal Pizzaballa said that the Catholic community in Gaza City has decided to stay.
US President Joe Biden said Sunday said Israel has the right to defend itself. “At the same time, Prime Minister Netanyahu and I have discussed how Israel must operate by the laws of war. That means protecting civilians in combat as best as they can, the US president said.