Priests and Nuns from Gaza's Catholic parish receive international award

Holy Family Church, Gaza. Nov 2022. Wiki Image by Dan Palraz

Source: Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem

On 15 October, the priests and sisters of the Holy Family Parish of Gaza were honoured with the Achille Silvestrini International Prize for Dialogue and Peace at a ceremony in Rome.

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, accepted the award on their behalf.

Established in 2022, the award celebrates those who embody the spirit of dialogue, reconciliation, and human fraternity. "In a city besieged by hunger and destruction, the priests and sisters of the parish serve and protect hundreds of displaced and destitute people - women and children above all - offering an extraordinary witness to solidarity and peace," read the citation announcing the honour.

The monetary portion of the prize comes from a fundraising initiative titled 'Le rondini torneranno a Gaza' (The swallows will return to Gaza) a phrase evoking hope for renewal.

The ceremony, held at the Villa Nazareth University College Theatre in Rome, gathered church and civic leaders, including Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State. A group of Palestinian youths from Gaza, hosted in Rome by the Community of Sant'Egidio, also attended. The evening closed with a musical tribute by composer Nicola Piovani, who performed a piece written in honour of the parish's witness.

In an exclusive interview with Vatican Radio on the day of the award Cardinal Pizzaballa reflected on the fragile truce of 8 October and the need for "a new language, new words, and new witnesses" to rebuild, tend to the wounds of both sides, and work toward a future that does not repeat the past, saying: "We have a duty toward our communities - to help them look ahead, positively and serenely, toward a different future," he said.

Cardinal Pizzaballa said Gaza's Christian community "still cannot believe they were able to sleep through the night without hearing the sound of bombs." He described the situation as "dramatic because everything is destroyed. People are returning, but they are returning to the ruins. Hospitals are not functioning; schools do not exist... The mistrust between the parties remains high. However, there is a new atmosphere - fragile, but we hope it will become more stable."

The Patriarch noted of there is a shared hope that it marks not just a temporary pause but a true beginning, so "life may resume with a new perspective - one that is not war and violence."

Reflecting on the path toward hope and fraternity, he acknowledged that "it will take time" because "the wounds are deep," yet underlined the importance of "new voices who can help rebuild a different narrative, one based on mutual respect.... The task of this generation is to prepare the next one. Little by little, we must create foundations and conditions, with new faces and new leadership, and create environments that gradually foster a culture of respect, which will in turn bring peace." He also spoke of the need of new leaders willing to speak "a new language, new words" to counter "the narrative of contempt, rejection, and exclusion" that has been fed on for years.

Looking ahead, he expressed hope for the return of pilgrims to the Holy Land: "It's time to show solidarity not only through prayer and aid, but also through pilgrimage."