While “we must not delude ourselves,” says the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, “at this moment, there are the best conditions to reach an agreement.”
The cardinal expressed this cautious hope to Vatican Media, saying that the peace talks to bring an end to the war in Gaza has promising prospects.
I believe that the conditions have matured to finally conclude this phase of the war, and, consequently, also to distance an escalation, a widening of the conflict with the direct intervention of Iran and the extension of the war also to Lebanon.
I repeat, there are many difficulties, but I believe that there is a massive effort, not only from the mediators, but also from the United States, to close this situation. The prospects are promising.
The cardinal highlighted, though, that the situation in the West Bank, though less discussed, is also complicated.
Assumption feast
Negotiators from multiple countries gathered in Qatar on August 15, to resume the negotiations for a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip. That date is the solemnity of the Assumption of Mary into Heaven.
“I seem to see a hopeful sign in the fact that the parties involved have agreed to resume talks for the ceasefire in Gaza, the liberation of the hostages and that of political prisoners on the very day in which we celebrate Mary assumed into Heaven,” Fr. Francesco Patton, the Custos of the Holy Land, said in a letter addressed a letter to the friars of the Custody, inviting them to dedicate the Solemnity to prayer for peace in the Middle East and throughout the world.
For his part, Cardinal Pizzaballa issued a call August 10 to pray on August 15 for peace through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Support from Mennonites
In his interview with Vatican Media, Cardinal Pizzaballa praised the solidarity from the universal Church, particularly in supporting the small Christian community in Gaza.
Our small community, which is located north of Gaza, in Gaza City, tries to live in this situation in the best and most calm conditions possible, even though it is difficult. We are active in trying to help the population with aid that we manage to obtain not only from the Knights of Malta, but also from many other associations; the last ones were from the Mennonite Church, which sent more than a thousand packages. It is very beautiful to see how, within this very serious and tragic situation, there is also so much solidarity.
Read the whole interview here
And today we celebrate...