Latin Patriarch gives heart-rending account of visit to Gaza

Cardinal Pierbattista visiting Gaza © LPJ.org

Source: ACN

In a heart-rending eyewitness account of his visit to Gaza, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem has today (Tuesday, 22nd July) begged for an end to the violence.

Speaking at Notre Dame of Jerusalem Centre in Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa made a statement highlighting the distressing scenes he witnessed shortly after an attack on the Holy Family Catholic Church, in Gaza City.

When an Israel Defence Forces tank, opened fire on the church on Thursday (17th July), three people were killed and at least 10 others were wounded, including Parish Priest Father Gabriel Romanelli.

Accompanied by Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pizzaballa visited Gaza City the next day.

The patriarchs quickly joined with other Holy Land Church leaders in denouncing what they described as a "heinous attack".

In a statement, a copy of which the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem sent to Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), Cardinal Pizzaballa described the devastation they saw.

The Cardinal said: "Let us not turn peace into a slogan, while war remains the daily bread of the poor."

He stated: "I renew my appeal to the international community to observe humanitarian law and to respect the obligation to protect civilians, as well as the prohibition of collective punishment, the indiscriminate use of force and the forced displacement of the population."

"It is time to end this nonsense, end the war and put the common good of people as the top priority."

Describing his visit to Gaza on Friday, he said: "We walked through the dust of ruins, past collapsed buildings and tents everywhere: in courtyards, alleyways, on the streets and on the beach, tents that have become homes for those who have lost everything.

"We stood among families who have lost count of the days of exile because they see no horizon for a return. Children talked and played without batting an eyelid, they were already used to the noise of the bombing."

He said that in the midst of it all they encountered the "dignity of the human spirit that refuses to be extinguished".

Cardinal Pizzaballa added: "We met mothers preparing food for others, nurses treating wounds with gentleness, and people of all faiths still praying to the God who sees and never forgets."

"We have not come as politicians or diplomats, but as pastors. The Church, the entire Christian community, will never abandon them.

He said the humiliation people suffer is "morally unacceptable and unjustifiable".

He added: "Humanitarian aid is not only necessary, it is a matter of life and death. Refusing it is not a delay, but a sentence. Every hour without food, water, medicine and shelter causes deep harm."

ACN is working closely with the Patriarch to provide emergency aid and support for the Church across the Holy Land, including job creation schemes, trauma counselling and help for priests and religious.

ACN's UK office is able to contribute to the support in the West Bank and East Jerusalem but the UK government's counter-terrorism sanctions make it impossible to transfer funds into Gaza.

LINKS

Read the full statement here: https://lpj.org/en/news/cardinal-pizzaballas-speech

Aid to the Church in Need: www.acnuk.org