Latin Patriarch visits Christian community of Gaza

Image: LPJ

Source: Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem

The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, was able to visit the Christian community of Gaza today - his first visit since the war began seven months ago,

The Cardinal entered the besieged Gaza Strip accompanied by Fra Alessandro de Franciscis, Grand Hospitaller of the Sovereign Order of Malta, and by Father Gabriel Romanelli IVE, parish priest of Gaza, (who recently visited England and Scotland) together with a small delegation.

According to a statement issued by the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, the visitors "met with the suffering population, to encourage them and convey a message of hope, solidarity and support... His Beatitude presided over Mass in the parish church with the local community."

During his stay, Cardinal Pizzaballa also visited St Porphyrios Greek Orthodox Church, where 17 parishioners sheltering in the parish hall were killed in October during an aerial attack.

According to the statement, the Patriarch's pastoral visit to the Gaza parish is also the first stage of a joint humanitarian mission of the Latin Patriarchate and the Sovereign Order of Malta, in collaboration with Malteser International and other partners, whose objective is the delivery of food and medical aid to the population of Gaza.

In a video message released by the patriarchate, Cardinal Pizzaballa said: "It has been a long time since I first had the desire to come see them, to meet them. Finally, I have this opportunity and I am very happy about it."

He explained that the objective of the visit is, "above all, to be with them, to hug and support them, to verify their conditions, to try to understand what can be done to improve their situation and to help them in every way possible."

Cardinal Pizzaballa then called on all Christians to join "the Christian community of Gaza in prayer."

Pope Francis has expressed his constant concern for the Holy Family Catholic parish in Gaza, staying in telephone contact with the parish priest, Father Gabriel Romanelli, and the assistant parish priest, Father Youssef Assad.

In fact, since the armed conflict between Israel and Hamas militants has been taking place in the enclave, the Pope has made almost daily phone calls to the parish, to learn about the situation and offer words of hope and spiritual closeness.

The Holy Family parish, staffed by priests from the Institute of the Incarnate Word, is the only Catholic parish in Gaza. As is the case throughout the territory, the parish faces severe shortages of food, water and medicine, a lack of heating during the winter months and now a hot summer approaching.

The parish complex, which includes a school, continues to house hundreds of people who have lost everything in the war.