Cardinal Pizzaballa says Abuse and Manipulation of God's Name to Justify War is the "Gravest Sin" - Palestinians Including Christians Suffer Attacks Almost Daily

Cardinal Pizzaballa: Invoking God to Justify War is the "Gravest Sin"

As the Middle East continues to be fractured by displacement and death, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, has issued a sharp theological and moral critique of the conflict. The Vatican released that speaking at an International Oasis Foundation webinar, the Cardinal asserted that truth must be upheld in the face of propaganda, stating firmly that "God is with those who die in war, not with those who abuse His name."

(Excerpts from the Webinar in Italian - Auto-Dubbed)


Key Rebukes of "Pseudo-Religious" Rhetoric

Cardinal Pizzaballa specifically addressed the manipulation of faith for political gain, labeling the use of religious language to justify violence as the gravest possible sin. “The abuse and manipulation of God’s name to justify this and any other war is the gravest sin we can commit at this time” said Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa at a webinar on the conflict ravaging the Middle East. * Political Interests: He argued that the current war is driven by material and political interests, not divine mandate.

  • The Psalm 144 Controversy: The Patriarch directly criticized the U.S. Secretary of War for recently quoting Psalm 144 to frame the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran as a divinely blessed mission.

  • No "New Crusades": Pizzaballa rejected any narrative suggesting a holy war, stating: "If God is present in this war, He is among those who are dying, who are suffering... and who are oppressed."

A Future Built on Violence "Perishes"

Supporting Pope Leo XIV’s recent calls for a ceasefire, the Cardinal acknowledged that while such appeals often fall on deaf ears, the Church must continue to speak. He warned that any peace built on violence is hollow, creating a "world of death" defined by resentment and fear.

2 Million Displaced Living in Sewers and Tents

"There are no new crusades, and God has nothing to do with this," he reiterated. "God is among those who are dying, who are sick, who are suffering." The cardinal then painted an extremely critical picture of the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, which is now little discussed, also focusing on the so-called 'Peace Committee' promoted by President Donald Trump. "Fifty-three percent of the Strip, home to over two million displaced people, is under direct Israeli control; 47%, where the majority of Palestinians are located, is under Hamas control. Eighty percent of the Strip is destroyed, and reconstruction has not yet begun." This situation also impacts the few healthcare facilities that remain standing and partially operational. "Medicines are lacking, even basic antibiotics. People are literally living in sewers and tents. The schools are almost all destroyed." The Gaza Strip remains impervious to aid, with crossings virtually closed. Commenting on the US initiative, he noted that the "Board of Peace has not become operational, and we don't know if it will. And I still haven't figured out what they intend to do."

The Role of Media and Information

The Cardinal also highlighted the role of communication in modern warfare:

  • Propaganda vs. Interpretation: He warned that media is often used to make war "acceptable" and urged journalists to help the public develop a critical view rather than consuming state-sponsored narratives.

  • The "Vicious Circle" in Gaza: Pizzaballa lamented that the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has fallen out of the headlines. He described a 2026 reality where 80% of the Strip remains destroyed and 2 million people live in squalor. He noted a political stalemate: Israel will not withdraw without a Hamas surrender, and Hamas will not disarm without an Israeli withdrawal.

Deteriorating Conditions in the West Bank

Finally, the cardinal drew attention to the worsening crisis in the West Bank. "There are settler attacks against Palestinians, including Christians, almost daily." Travel here too has become nearly impossible, and permits are largely being canceled. Meanwhile, Israeli legislative initiatives to re-register land to the detriment of the Palestinian population continue. The new state of crisis and tension is not sparing the Christian education system either, creating hardship for many families. In Jerusalem, there are 15 Christian schools that can no longer be reached by the more than two hundred Christian teachers who live in Bethlehem. "We are always under constant tension," the cardinal concludes, "and the situation remains very complicated for all of us."

The Patriarch expressed deep concern over the daily reality in the West Bank, citing:

  • Frequent settler attacks on Palestinian villages.

  • The presence of nearly 1,000 checkpoints and the cancellation of movement permits.

  • New Israeli measures targeting land registries and the non-recognition of Palestinian academic degrees, which he warns will cripple the Christian school system and local economy.

"What is built on violence perishes; it has no future." — Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa

Sources - https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2026-03/cardinal-pizzaballa-middle-east-war-abuse-god-s-name-gaza-israel.html 

https://www.vaticannews.va/it/chiesa/news/2026-03/medio-oriente-gaza-cisgiordania-gerusalemme-pizzaballa-guerra.html

Comments

Anonymous said…
The Cardinal is full of rhetorical baloney. This is not about a just war; Trump is confronting evil. We are in real trouble when a Prince of church cannot distinguish between the two. In fact, witnessing what is occurring at the hands of the Iranian theocracy, to invoke rationale to “unjustify” the war is an endorsement of evil or dismisses the existence of evil.
March 19, 2026 at 9:16 PM
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