Cardinal Pizzaballa says "Despite the ceasefire, people are still dying in Gaza" and says No to "luxury resorts in Gaza"

Cardinal Pizzaballa delivered a speech in the city of Arezzo in the Tuscany region of north-central Italy during the celebrations of Our Lady of Consolation, as part of the general meeting entitled “Justice and Peace in the Holy Land"
“The obstacle to peace is always short-sighted politics. But we must never give up working for something different. We need to build and keep our narrative alive, the narrative of the majority, who want to live in peace and security, recognizing their own rights and the rights of others.” This is what Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, said to the young people of Rondin Cittadella della Pace, whom he met before participating in a general audience at the Basilica of San Francesco in Arezzo.

The dignity of those who have lost everything

In an interview with Avvenire correspondent Giacomo Gambassi, Cardinal Pizzaballa addressed the issue of achieving peace in Gaza and the rest of the Holy Land, which remains in a state of extreme tension. Commenting on the situation in the Gaza Strip, His Beatitude stressed that it is impossible to envision a future of reconstruction without taking into account the suffering, aspirations, and dignity of the two million Palestinians living there. In response to a question about the US administration's reconstruction plans, he said, "There will be no luxury resorts in Gaza."

The war in Gaza is not over

Despite the ceasefire, people are still dying in Gaza. “It’s true, there’s no longer widespread bombing, as the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem pointed out—but there are targeted killings. Ninety-six percent of residential areas have been razed to the ground, schools have been closed for three years, and medicine is unavailable, so people are dying from the cold, infections, and lack of care.” In the Holy Family Church compound alone, 23 people died from “direct fire,” Pizzaballa reminds us, and a similar number died from hunger and cold .

Without trust there is no peace

Nothing will ever be the same in that land, “and we don’t even know what will happen afterward.” This was Cardinal Pizzaballa’s response to a question about the path to peace . “Talking about peace now is meaningless. Peace requires a culture, foundations, politics, and a minimum of trust, while trust was the first casualty of this war.”

Regarding the importance of the Christian presence in Gaza, the Patriarch reiterated that the decision to remain there is not a political matter, but rather "a duty to the most vulnerable who cannot move, and a matter of harmony and solidarity." He added, "Christians are Palestinians like everyone else."

Great solidarity amidst the suffering


Cardinal Pizzaballa also wanted to recall the many signs of solidarity and concern he had received from around the world, "even from very small and poor parishes." These signs, he said, do not make them feel alone, despite their dire need and the extremely difficult situation .

At the same time, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem reminds us that the greatest concern relates to the West Bank, where the situation is constantly deteriorating, and everything is moving towards a "gradual and slow erosion of Palestinian rights." He added, "We have 23 parishes in the West Bank, and every day I receive requests for help because of the violations and acts of violence they have suffered, but we don't know who to turn to."

Peacebuilding is hard work

Politically and socially, the situation doesn't appear likely to change anytime soon. A new political vision is needed to rebuild peace . "This isn't the time for grand initiatives. It's a time to pave the way, build relationships, and identify those who desire peace, because in the future we will need them to rebuild it." Regarding this shared commitment, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem explains, "The desire for peace must become a culture, nurtured in schools, families, and the media. It's a difficult task that requires time and effort, but it must be undertaken."

Contribution of the Christian world


There is no doubt that the Jubilee of Redemption in 2033 in Jerusalem will be an opportunity to reaffirm the role of religions in building paths to peace, “the place where this yearning for peace is preserved, but also threatened.” “It is always difficult to be Christian,” affirms Cardinal Pizzaballa, “for our faith is complex. Yet the existence of these difficulties demonstrates that Christian witness is still alive. And faith, when free, is unsettling, because our freedom is linked to a person who gave his life out of love, and