Jerusalem, 07 November, 2023 / 8:00 pm (ACI Africa).
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, has published an open letter asking for donations to be able to care for people suffering in a society “scarred by hatred.”
In the letter, the cardinal explained that it is “charity and prayer” that have animated the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem (LPJ) “in times of extreme hardship,” and thus “many lives were saved and much suffering was alleviated” during the COVID-19 emergency, the Beirut port explosion in 2020, and the earthquake in Syria and Turkey earlier this year.
“In all these situations we heard and answered the cry of the poor. Once again, their cry is heard in the Holy Land because of the war that has been raging now for over three weeks,” he wrote.
The patriarch noted that the outbreak of war “has not only caused death, destruction, and hunger in Gaza” but has also brought with it “high unemployment,” especially in the Bethlehem area. Pizzaballa also pointed out that the drama of violence has affected “countless families from different religions” and all Catholic institutions in the region, including schools, hospitals, and parishes.
“In Gaza, our material resources have extended beyond our walls to include our suffering neighbors and those who took refuge in other locations. The spirit of coordination was evident, as local players also extended a helping hand,” he noted.
