The Patriarch of Jerusalem of the Latins, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, “entered the Gaza Strip this morning and reached the compound of the parish of the Holy Family for a solidarity visit and the celebration of Christmas”. This was reported by the Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
ANSA Agency ‘Cruelty in Gaza’, Israel’s fury at the Pope’s words – Breaking news – Ansa.it New crisis between Israel and Pope Francis. The Pontiff returned today to talk about Gaza using the word “cruelty”. Tel Aviv responds by accusing him of “double standards”. (HANDLE) Yesterday morning, in his Christmas speech to the Curia, the Pope denounced that the Patriarch had not been able to enter the Strip, despite Israel’s assurances. The Israeli embassy to the Holy See replied that Cardinal Pizzaballa had instead received permission.
It is possible that there was some timing issue due to the difficult situation in Gaza. Pizzaballa, on the eve of every important celebration, such as Christmas, visits its parish communities.
But even today, at the Angelus prayer, Francis recalled the war in the Middle East: “With pain I think of Gaza, of so much cruelty, of the machine-gunned children, of the bombing of schools and hospitals. So much cruelty”, he said.
“Let us pray that at Christmas there may be a ceasefire on all war fronts: in the Holy Land, in Ukraine, throughout the Middle East and throughout the world”, asked the pontiff.
‘We will never abandon you’
“We will never abandon you”: this is how the Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, addresses the faithful of Gaza in the church of the Holy Family. The cardinal’s voice, in the homily of the mass, is constantly drowned out by the background noise of the drones.
“Do not be afraid”, Pizzaballa repeats several times, and “preserve your heart”, “together let us remember that Jesus is here with you”. “I bring you the solidarity of our entire Church”, “you have somehow become the light of our Church and Christmas is precisely the celebration of light” and “even in this situation we must see the meaning of our life”. “Create relationships, don’t give up on this situation”, continued the cardinal, assuring that “people from all over the world, not just Christians, are with you”. “Then you too can give something because the whole world is watching you. You have to choose whether to belong to the light or the darkness, to Jesus or to someone else.”
> “We are proud of you, not for anything special, but because you have remained what you are: Christians with Jesus. We will bring the light of Christ with us from here”, concluded Pizzaballa. During the celebration the Patriarch gave confirmation to some boys.
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Source: Ansa
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