Pope Francis' Appeal "Let us #PrayTogether that there be peace in Israel and in Palestine" is Echoed by Church Leaders Around the World
Pope Francis, on Twitter, issued this appeal -
I am following apprehensively and sorrowfully what is happening in Israel. May the attacks and weaponry cease! And let it be understood that terrorism and war do not lead to any resolutions. War is a defeat! Let us #PrayTogether that there be peace in Israel and in Palestine.
After war erupted between Israel and Palestine's Hamas militants on October 7th, Patriarchs and heads of Churches in Jerusalem, and other Church leaders in the world call for the immediate cessation of all violent and military activities, reiterating that everything is lost with war.
Pope Francis’ made an appeal for peace in the Holy Land during the Angelus on Sunday, as one of the several voices from Churches around the world calling for an immediate de-escalation of the violence.
Over 700 Israelis have been killed, including many civilians, around 100 were also taken hostage; while the Palestinian death toll has risen to over 500 killed, and more than 2,750 people have been wounded. Tens of thousands (70,000 according UNRWA, the U.N. agency that provides essential services to Palestinians) in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip have fled their homes.
Along with Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, which has also called for preserving the status Quo in all the Holy Places in the Holy Land, and in Jerusalem in particular, Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in the Holy City have joined in urging for the immediate “cessation of all violent and military activities that bring harm to both Palestinian and Israeli civilians,” and in expressing solidarity with the people of the region, “who are enduring the devastating consequences of continued strife.”
In a statement issued in the wake of “Al-Aqsa Storm”, they “unequivocally condemn any acts that target civilians, regardless of their nationality, ethnicity, or faith”, saying that “such actions go against the fundamental principles of humanity and the teachings of Christ, who implored us to ‘love your neighbour as yourself’."
The Church leaders in Jerusalem further implored political leaders and authorities “to engage in sincere dialogue, seeking lasting solutions that promote justice, peace, and reconciliation for the people of this land, who have endured the burdens of conflict for far too long.”
They also urged the international community “to redouble its efforts to mediate a just and lasting peace in the Holy Land, based on equal rights for all and on international legitimacy.”
These words were reiterated by the World Council of Churches (WCC), which has appealed urgently “for an immediate cessation of this deadly violence, for Hamas to cease their attacks and ask both parties for de-escalation of the situation.”
“We are deeply concerned about the imminent risks of spiralling conflict between Israel and Palestinian armed groups, and of the inevitably tragic consequences for the people of the region – Israelis and Palestinians alike – following a period of escalating tensions and violence in the West Bank and Jerusalem”, said WCC general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay in a statement.
“The current attacks threaten only more violence; they cannot provide a path to peace or to justice”, Pillay added, urging all WCC member Churches to join in prayer for a just peace in the Holy Land and “in solidarity with all the people affected and threatened by violence.”
Cardinal Vincent Nichols, the Archbishop of Westminster and president of the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales (CBCEW), for his part, has reiterated that “Violence is never a solution. Retribution is never a contribution to peace”, asking the faithful to pray “so that the Holy Spirit may bring peace in the Holy Land, for all who have lost their lives and for the immediate release of those taken hostage, especially for the small but active Catholic community in Gaza City who at this moment will be reaching out courageously to their neighbours, trying to offer shelter and support”.
Fr. Romanelli (Gaza): verything can be lost with war
Father Gabriel Romanelli, the parish priest of the Holy Family, the only Catholic parish in the Gaza serving some 1,000 Catholics, told Fides agency that the prevailing sentiment of the Gazawi people is a feeling of uncertainty on what is going to happen next, in light of what happened in the past, in similar, but less serious circumstances , “In the face of all this”, he said “Pope Pius XII’s appeal before the outbreak of the Second World War continually comes to mind: nothing is lost with peace, everything can be lost with war”, the Argentinian-born priest said.
I am following apprehensively and sorrowfully what is happening in Israel. May the attacks and weaponry cease! And let it be understood that terrorism and war do not lead to any resolutions. War is a defeat! Let us #PrayTogether that there be peace in Israel and in Palestine.
After war erupted between Israel and Palestine's Hamas militants on October 7th, Patriarchs and heads of Churches in Jerusalem, and other Church leaders in the world call for the immediate cessation of all violent and military activities, reiterating that everything is lost with war.
Pope Francis’ made an appeal for peace in the Holy Land during the Angelus on Sunday, as one of the several voices from Churches around the world calling for an immediate de-escalation of the violence.
Over 700 Israelis have been killed, including many civilians, around 100 were also taken hostage; while the Palestinian death toll has risen to over 500 killed, and more than 2,750 people have been wounded. Tens of thousands (70,000 according UNRWA, the U.N. agency that provides essential services to Palestinians) in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip have fled their homes.
Along with Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, which has also called for preserving the status Quo in all the Holy Places in the Holy Land, and in Jerusalem in particular, Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in the Holy City have joined in urging for the immediate “cessation of all violent and military activities that bring harm to both Palestinian and Israeli civilians,” and in expressing solidarity with the people of the region, “who are enduring the devastating consequences of continued strife.”
In a statement issued in the wake of “Al-Aqsa Storm”, they “unequivocally condemn any acts that target civilians, regardless of their nationality, ethnicity, or faith”, saying that “such actions go against the fundamental principles of humanity and the teachings of Christ, who implored us to ‘love your neighbour as yourself’."
The Church leaders in Jerusalem further implored political leaders and authorities “to engage in sincere dialogue, seeking lasting solutions that promote justice, peace, and reconciliation for the people of this land, who have endured the burdens of conflict for far too long.”
They also urged the international community “to redouble its efforts to mediate a just and lasting peace in the Holy Land, based on equal rights for all and on international legitimacy.”
These words were reiterated by the World Council of Churches (WCC), which has appealed urgently “for an immediate cessation of this deadly violence, for Hamas to cease their attacks and ask both parties for de-escalation of the situation.”
“We are deeply concerned about the imminent risks of spiralling conflict between Israel and Palestinian armed groups, and of the inevitably tragic consequences for the people of the region – Israelis and Palestinians alike – following a period of escalating tensions and violence in the West Bank and Jerusalem”, said WCC general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay in a statement.
“The current attacks threaten only more violence; they cannot provide a path to peace or to justice”, Pillay added, urging all WCC member Churches to join in prayer for a just peace in the Holy Land and “in solidarity with all the people affected and threatened by violence.”
Cardinal Vincent Nichols, the Archbishop of Westminster and president of the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales (CBCEW), for his part, has reiterated that “Violence is never a solution. Retribution is never a contribution to peace”, asking the faithful to pray “so that the Holy Spirit may bring peace in the Holy Land, for all who have lost their lives and for the immediate release of those taken hostage, especially for the small but active Catholic community in Gaza City who at this moment will be reaching out courageously to their neighbours, trying to offer shelter and support”.
Fr. Romanelli (Gaza): verything can be lost with war
Father Gabriel Romanelli, the parish priest of the Holy Family, the only Catholic parish in the Gaza serving some 1,000 Catholics, told Fides agency that the prevailing sentiment of the Gazawi people is a feeling of uncertainty on what is going to happen next, in light of what happened in the past, in similar, but less serious circumstances , “In the face of all this”, he said “Pope Pius XII’s appeal before the outbreak of the Second World War continually comes to mind: nothing is lost with peace, everything can be lost with war”, the Argentinian-born priest said.
Source: Vatican News with File photo of Pope Francis
I am following apprehensively and sorrowfully what is happening in Israel. May the attacks and weaponry cease! And let it be understood that terrorism and war do not lead to any resolutions. War is a defeat! Let us #PrayTogether that there be peace in Israel and in Palestine.
— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) October 8, 2023
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