Stefano Leszczynski – Vatican
Politics without Vision
“The obstacle to peace is always short-sighted politics. However, one must never give up working for something different,” said Cardinal Pizzaballa. As he noted, it is necessary to “build and sustain our narrative” – the narrative of people who constitute the majority, who want to live peacefully, “recognized in their rights and recognizing the rights of others.”
Gaza without a Future?
Speaking about the Gaza Strip, the hierarch emphasized that one cannot think about reconstruction without considering the pain, aspirations, and dignity of its inhabitants. “There will be no luxury resort in Gaza,” he stated, referring to reconstruction plans.
Although a ceasefire is in effect – as the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem noted – “the war in Gaza has not ended.” “There are no more carpet bombings, but there are targeted executions. 96% of residential areas are razed to the ground, schools have been closed for three years, and there is a lack of medicine, which is why people die from cold, infections, and lack of medical care,” Cardinal Pizzaballa enumerated. Among the Catholic community of the Holy Family parish in Gaza alone, 23 people died from “direct fire,” and others died from hunger and cold.
Without Trust
“Talking about peace now makes little sense. Peace needs culture, foundations, politics, a minimum of trust, while trust was the first casualty of this war,” explained Cardinal Pizzaballa. The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem also emphasized that the presence of Christians in Gaza is not a political issue, but “fidelity to the weakest who cannot move, consistency, and solidarity.” “Christians are Palestinians like everyone else,” he stressed.
Peace as Culture
Cardinal Pizzaballa’s greatest concerns today are regarding the situation in the West Bank, where – as he noted – “everything is moving towards a slow and gradual erasure of Palestinian rights.” Building peace requires a new vision: “This is not the time for grand gestures. It is a time for preparing the ground, creating networks, and finding those who want peace,” assessed the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem. “The desire for peace must become a culture that is born in schools, families, and media. This is a difficult job, requiring time and energy, but it must be undertaken,” he added.
Hope 2033
Cardinal Pizzaballa recalled that a special moment for Christians in the Holy Land will be the Jubilee of Redemption in 2033 in Jerusalem, where the desire for peace “is guarded, but also threatened.” “It is always difficult to be a Christian – our faith is demanding. However, the fact that there are difficulties means that Christian witness is still alive,” the Cardinal noted.
