“I’m afraid that this war will be very long,” comments Pierbattista Piccaballa, Catholic Patriarch of the Latin Rite of the Holy Land, about what is happening in the Middle East. He has returned to Israel from Rome, where he received the cardinal purple. Speaking about the situation of Christians in the Gaza Strip, the cardinal assures that they are currently safe.
In an interview available on Vatican Radio, Cardinal Pierbattista Piccaballa answers the questions posed by journalist Roberto Chatera:
Eminence, you managed to return to Jerusalem. What did you see? What are your impressions?
I managed to return and in a rather unusual way, with the help of civil and military authorities – both from Israel and Jordan, because I came through Jordan. I saw a frightened and surprised land. The increase in violence was expected, but not in these ways, on this scale and with such brutality. I also saw a lot of anger and a longing to hear a word for guidance, a longing for comfort and also for clarity about what is happening. In the whole universe, I saw a land that had changed greatly and suddenly.
Do you have any news about the Christian community in Gaza?
Yes, everyone is safe. Some families have had their homes destroyed, but everyone is safe. Christians are in church-owned buildings and our school premises, assuming they will not be attacked. No doubt they feel a lot of tension. They will have food supplies for a while, but if the siege drags on, there could be trouble. At the moment, we are comforted by the fact that everyone is safe and gathered in the church buildings.
The unpredictability of events is evident in many of the comments these hours, but you have been highlighting the progressive escalation of violence for months, implying that it could turn into something worse, as it is now…
Unfortunately, I have been an easy prophet. Escalation of clashes was in front of everyone’s eyes. But no one predicted such an explosion of violence, scale and brutality. It brings to the fore an issue that had been pushed aside, namely the Palestinian issue, which some might have thought was buried in the archives. As long as the Palestinian cause, their freedom, dignity and future are not respected in the ways needed today, the prospects for peace between Israel and Palestine will become increasingly difficult.
Eminence, I am aware that it is difficult to make predictions with the changes taking place at the moment, but are you able to see the possible scenarios of the next hours, the next days?
Undoubtedly, it is very difficult to make predictions at this point. It is clear that this is not a military operation, but a declared war. And I fear it will be a very long war. It is possible that the Israeli response will not be limited to bombings, but also a ground operation. It is clear that we have suddenly entered a new phase of life and relations between Israel and Palestine in this land. If you can talk about relationships…
What would you say to the international community?
The international community needs to start looking at the Middle East and the Israeli-Palestinian issue with more attention than it has so far. And a lot of work needs to be done to calm the situation, to bring the parties involved to reason through mediation, which should not necessarily be public, because public mediation will not work. We need support, condemnation of violence in all its forms, isolation of the violent and continuous work to end the fire. Because while the guns are talking, it will not be possible to hear other voices.
Translated and prepared for publication by Inese Steinerte
2023-10-10 15:02:12
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