Jerusalem’s Latin patriarch reflects on the Church’s role amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has not abated, although the situation in the Holy Land is no longer in the spotlight as it once was. Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, emphasizes in this interview with the Register that several interconnected situations exist: In the Gaza Strip, there is “a truce, but it is not always respected,” and everything is due to precarious conditions.
Even in times of great crisis, the cardinal has not failed to enter Gaza, bringing humanitarian aid and relief to the suffering population. He now also views with concern the attacks on Christian villages, such as the one in Taybeh on Oct. 17, which was also condemned by Israeli authorities.
In a complex situation such as this, Cardinal Pizzaballa reiterates that the Church’s role is to accompany those who are suffering.
It seems the situation in Gaza, like that in the Holy Land, has been completely forgotten. What is the situation now?
Let’s say not much has changed. The situation in Gaza remains problematic, especially on the humanitarian front. The fires of war have been extinguished, but they’re not entirely
