On 19 July, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, His Beatitude Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, visited staff of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference in Columba Centre, Maynooth, during which he spoke on the record with Father Bill Kemmy of iCatholic about the unrest and humanitarian horror currently afflicting Gaza.
The diocese of His Beatitude Cardinal Pizzaballa extends to cover the Holy Land encompassing Israel, Palestine, Cyprus, and Jordan. The Cardinal shone light on the dire situation in Gaza describing recent months as a “terrible dark night,” emphasising the intolerable conditions in Gaza following the attack on Israeli civilians by Hamas on 7 October 2023, and the subsequent military response by the Israeli Defence Forces on Gazans.
Cardinal Pizzaballa lamented the devastation in Gaza, noting that over 80% of homes have been destroyed and around 40,000 lives lost. His Beatitude highlighted the unprecedented scale of violence and the severe starvation affecting the population, a scenario previously unseen in the region.
During his recent visit to Gaza, the Cardinal was struck by the changed landscape and the visible signs of malnutrition among the people, especially children. The Christian community, both Orthodox and Catholic, is living in church compounds, with families residing in classrooms and cooking once or twice a week due to a lack of resources.
The Cardinal detailed the severe health crisis, with a lack of medicines for chronic diseases and the impact of poor hygiene on vulnerable populations, particularly children and the elderly. He also mentioned that north Gaza, including Gaza City with its 600,000 residents, is devoid of hospitals, leaving the sick without care.
Despite these challenges, the Holy Family Parish in Gaza continues to shelter people of all faiths, though it too has suffered destruction. Before the conflict, the Christian community numbered over 1,000; now, only 621 remain, with many having emigrated or succumbed to the violence.
Cardinal Pizzaballa emphasised the importance of a ceasefire and spoke of hope as “the daughter of faith,” distinguishing it from mere optimism. He called for a renewed sense of purpose through faith, urging people to maintain a humane attitude and work towards small-scale changes in their communities.
His Beatitude’s message to the Irish Church was one of solidarity and prayer. He stressed the need for balanced information, constructive dialogue, and empathy, urging the international community to remain informed and engaged with the plight of those in Gaza.
Cardinal Pizzaballa concluded with a heartfelt thank you, underlining the critical role of global support and understanding in these trying times.
To view the full interview go online to iCatholic.ie or on X see @iCatholic_ie
ENDS
