Cardinal Pizzaballa Affirms Hope for the Future of Christians in the Holy Land, Despite Lack of Short-Term Solutions
The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, believes that the war in Gaza is nearing its end, although he warns that the cessation of military operations will not equate to peace.
«I think the peak of the war in Gaza is behind us. The ceasefire with Hezbollah will also have an impact on Gaza and Hamas. My impression is that in the coming weeks or months, some sort of agreement will be reached,» the patriarch stated during a press conference organized by the pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN).
«However, the end of military hostilities will not mean the end of the conflict. When the military operation ends, what will life in Gaza look like? Who will remain there? Rebuilding will take years, and I am certain the border with Israel will remain closed. So, what does the future hold for its population?»
During his visit to ACN’s international headquarters, the patriarch denounced the current atmosphere of distrust in the Holy Land, stating, «What worries me is the level of hatred: the hate speech, the dismissive language, the denial of the other… that is very troubling.»
«We have endured other wars, but there is a clear before and after October 7. The type of violence that occurred and its emotional impact on both populations have been enormous. For Israelis, it was a kind of Shoah, while for Palestinians, what has happened since then is a new Nakba, a renewed attempt to expel them from their land.»
«When the war in Gaza finally ends,» he added, «we can rebuild infrastructure, but how will we rebuild relationships?»
The patriarch believes that Christians, who make up 1.5% of the Holy Land’s population, are uniquely positioned to contribute in this area: «Since we are so small and politically irrelevant, we have the freedom to reach out to everyone. In a place with so many wounds and divisions, our ability to reconnect people is one of our main missions for the future.»
Striving to Stay United
Although Christians in the Holy Land are few, and Latin-rite Catholics are even fewer, there is a wide variety of communities among them. Arabic-speaking Christians are the majority, but there is also a small community of Hebrew-speaking Catholics and another of refugees and asylum seekers. Keeping these communities united has sometimes been challenging, Pizzaballa admitted during the ACN press conference.
«While this war pushes everyone to divide, we fight to stay united. That hasn’t been easy, especially at the beginning of the war. We share one faith, but people have different visions and ideas. Now the situation is much better, but after the war, we will need to discuss our differences and our unity. That is something very healthy for us Christians, as it helps us take a step forward. We need to grow in our relationships and maintain a deeper and more serious connection with each other.»
«There Is Still Hope»
The war in the Holy Land is having severe economic consequences for the Christian population. Almost all West Bank Christians who worked in Israel have had their permits revoked since the conflict began, and those who depend on pilgrims are facing the collapse of the tourism sector.
The patriarch stressed that it is essential for Christians to remain in the Holy Land to «keep the memory of Jesus alive in the land of Jesus.» He also insisted on the importance of keeping hope alive, without confusing it with belief in a short-term political solution:
«If we equate hope with a political solution in the future, then there is no hope, because there is no short-term solution. I would like to be wrong, but I fear this is the case. Hope is an attitude toward life, a way of facing the reality of your life with faith. Faith is believing in the presence of God, which transcends our earthly life. When you live with faith, you are able to see the transcendental, beyond the dark reality we are in. Only with faith can you do that, and now it is still possible!» the patriarch emphasized.
«Many people think these are just nice words, but it is real. Everywhere, from Gaza to the West Bank, Jerusalem, and Israel, I see wonderful people willing to do something for others. Where these acts of selfless love exist, there is hope, as it means change is possible. We may not be able to change macro-politics, but we can change something where we are. That is what comforts me,» said Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, adding: «Sometimes I also feel powerless because there are problems everywhere, but in all the wonderful things our Church continues to do in so many places, I see there is still hope.»
During the conference, Cardinal Pizzaballa thanked the pontifical foundation ACN, which has been funding projects in the Holy Land for many years and has intensified its support since the war began in October 2023. According to its executive president, Regina Lynch, who welcomed the patriarch at the press conference, «Thanks to our benefactors, we have been able to allocate over €1.2 million for emergency aid to Christians in response to this acute crisis. These emergency aid projects include food, water, medical supplies, job creation, and vocational training.»
«Nonetheless, ACN’s mission is not only to provide material aid to Christians in the Holy Land but also to pray for them and make their voices heard. Moreover, we have a duty to promote reconciliation and peace among different religious and ethnic groups, however impossible that may sometimes seem,» concluded Regina Lynch.