A truce between Israel and Hamas is now in place after 15 months of war. This is a ceasefire that the Church has celebrated, with, first of all, Pope Francis.
POPE FRANCIS
I express gratitude to all the mediators. This is a good job of mediating so that peace can be made. Thank you to the mediators! And also thank all the parties involved in this important outcome.
The priest of the only Catholic church in Gaza has done the same. Some 500 refugees have lived there for a year and a half and it is hoped that they will gradually be able to return to their homes.
This agreement between Israel and Hamas is also a breath of fresh air for resuming pilgrimages to the Holy Land. This is what the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem encourages: not to be afraid of returning to a normality that has not existed until now.
It is important for Christians in the area to welcome pilgrims. In addition to the spiritual value of the visit, for many locals it is their economic livelihood. Cardinal Pizzaballa already said this in 2018.
CARD. PIERBATTISTA PIZZABALLA
Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem
The pilgrimages give work to many Christians. Many families are able to live with dignity because of this work.
Welcoming millions of pilgrims gives us the experience of the universal Church, the embrace of the univeral Church in Jerusalem.
The decades-long conflict between Israel and Palestine has led to an exodus of Christians from the Holy Land. In 1948, they made up 20% of the population, and today they are less than 1%.
CA
TR: GS
