The Gospel needs to be heard today!
Stand with us in this mission.
In an interview with L’Osservatore Romano, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, offered a stark yet hopeful reading of the fragile situation in Gaza and the wider region. He welcomed the UN Security Council’s endorsement of the U.S. peace proposal, describing it as imperfect but currently the only plan that has slowed the expansion of the conflict. Even if the vote changes nothing immediately on the ground, he said, it represents a needed signal of international agreement.
According to the cardinal, real progress will demand far more than declarations. Hamas has no intention of laying down arms, and Israel shows little readiness for a full withdrawal. For this reason, Pizzaballa believes the international community must show “courage” and take responsibility for guiding both sides toward difficult but necessary political decisions. Goodwill alone, he said, will not carry Gaza or Israel toward stability.
On daily life inside Gaza, the cardinal painted a bleak picture. Although bombardments have stopped and aid flows are somewhat steadier, the help reaching families is still far from sufficient. Hospitals operate only partially, schools remain closed, and winter rain turns scarce protection into mud that deepens the hardship. He outlined the next urgent steps: clearing debris, burying the many dead still beneath the ruins, and beginning coordinated planning for reconstruction — tasks that require leadership structures that do not yet exist.
And the West Bank?
Turning to the West Bank, Cardinal Pizzaballa described escalating attacks by settlers, including assaults in Christian villages such as Taybeh. He told L’Osservatore Romano that many communities feel abandoned, lacking any authority that can ensure basic protection or uphold human rights. Countries that have recently recognized a Palestinian state, he added, must now move beyond symbolism and insist on concrete conditions that safeguard both dignity and security.
The patriarch’s call for renewed pilgrimages to the Holy Land was especially heartfelt. With the ceasefire holding and travel routes stable, he encouraged Christians from around the world to return. Pilgrimages, he said, not only strengthen the faith of those who travel but also provide vital support for local families whose livelihoods depend on visitors.
“Presence is a form of solidarity,” he noted, pointing to the Jubilee year’s invitation to rediscover the roots of Christian faith in Jerusalem and its surrounding communities.
Pizzaballa also addressed the role of religion in a time of crisis. Over the past two years, he observed, many religious leaders have spoken in ways that echo political narratives, weakening trust and damaging interreligious relationships. The path forward, he insisted, requires listening — truly hearing the suffering of others, even when doing so is painful. Drawing on a truth that resonates well beyond religious circles, he warned that peace cannot begin until communities recognize one another’s humanity.
In his words, acknowledging the other is also a way of rediscovering ourselves.
