Jerusalem: His Beatitude Theophilos III on Pastoral Visit to Gaza

His Beatitude Theophilos III, Patriarch of Jerusalem

Source: LPJ

The Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, His Beatitude Theophilos III, gave this statement today at the opening of the Press Conference on the Pastoral Visit to Gaza which he made with the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa and delegation.

Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, esteemed members of the press:

In the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ - He who "walked among the sick and the sorrowful," and who taught us that "whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me" (Matthew 25:40).

We gather today with hearts burdened by sorrow, yet steadfast in faith, following our pastoral mission to Gaza, a land bruised by prolonged affliction and pierced by the cries of its people.

Together with His Beatitude Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa at whose initiative, and in the company of devoted clergy, we entered as servants of the suffering Body of Christ, walking among the wounded, the bereaved, the displaced, and the faithful whose dignity remains unbroken despite their agony.

There, we encountered a people crushed by the weight of war, yet carrying within them the image of God. Among the broken walls of the Church of the Holy Family and the monastery of saint Porphyrios the wounded hearts of their faithful, we witnessed both profound grief and unyielding hope.

We knelt in prayer beside the afflicted and laid our hands upon those yearning for comfort, guided by the words of Saint Paul: "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:2).

The Church's mission in times of devastation is rooted in the ministry of presence, of standing with those who mourn, of defending the sacredness of life, and of witnessing to the light that no darkness can extinguish. This is none other than the presence of Christ Himself.

To the international community, we say: silence in the face of suffering is a betrayal of conscience.

To the whole people of Gaza, we the Church and her leaders stand in solidarity with you. And to all those who wield power, we echo the Lord's command: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God" (Matthew 5:9).

As the Christian tradition affirms, "Let us not love with words or speech alone but with actions and in truth" (1 John 3:18).

May this moment be a summons to conscience, and may the mercy of God guide every hand that seeks to mend what has been torn.