In recent months, the Holy Land has been wounded by a terrible conflict that spares no civilians or innocents. The Custody of the Holy Land, the Catholic Diocese of Jerusalem, and all other Christian communities in the Holy Land join together to call everyone to pray and fast for peace.
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Letter of His Holiness Pope Francis to the Catholics of the Holy Land
Vatican City – Wednesday, April 27
Our Christians in Gaza
On Saturday, Dec 16, the Israeli military entered the compound of the Holy Family Catholic Parish in Gaza, shooting at anyone leaving the church. The victims are an elderly woman and her daughter (Nahida and Samar Anton) who rushed out of the building to rescue her mother. Israel has justified the attack, claiming the presence of a missile launcher in the parish.
On Sunday, November 12, reports emerged that 84-year-old Christian music teacher Ilham Farah, seeking refuge at Gaza’s Holy Family Church, was fatally shot by the Israeli army outside the church while checking on her home. Shot in the leg and unable to be rescued, she bled to death in front of her house, with her body yet to be recovered for a dignified burial. Elham, a beloved figure from a prominent Gazan Christian family, had a history of traveling to the West Bank for Christmas and Easter celebrations with the church.
The following is the testimony of Mr. George Anton, Administrative director of Caritas Medical Center in Gaza – Oct. 31, 2023
There are approximately 1,000 Christians living in the Gaza Strip, and today they are facing the brutality of bombardments and of displacement.
Yet even in this dramatic framework, the words of hope of the young Suhail are a witness of tireless faith.
Suhail Abodawood is the boy behind the cross, smiling and standing to the right of the main celebrant.
Good morning world, do you still remember me? I’m Suhail Abodawood, from Gaza.
I’m taking my Church as a shelter now, because the safe and secure is with Jesus Christ only. I keep praying the Rosary always, to offer and ask my Lord for peace in our Church and our City.
I put all my trust in God and I put my life in my Lord’s hands: He is the only Saviour for me and I pray to be part of his glorious salvation.
I’m now facing very hard difficulties and the situation is really dangerous. In the last days, I slept in the Church: it’s the safest place now. We attend the Holy Mass twice a day and pray the Blessed Mary to give us more faith to manage our conditions properly.
Faith is stronger than war.
Everyday we lose something that belongs to us, either houses and people . We are praying from the bottom of our hearts and asking God to give us peace and justice in our Holy Land.
Yesterday, October 25th, I received a message before the Holy Mass began, saying that my home has been bombed and destroyed by the occupation. At first, I felt really sad and disappointed. But then, I realised that our lives are more important than any other thing.
In the Holy Mass, that started, I prayed so intensely our Lord Jesus and I asked Him to give me more strength and faith, to face my distress.
Despite everything, I consider and believe that the Holy Church is my first and last home. It becomes my true home, after the other one has been destroyed.
The Church will be always my home and Jesus Christ will remain in my heart wherever I go.
We will keep praying, fasting and thanking God for everything He has done to us, as long as we are still alive.
We will sacrifice ourselves for Jesus as He sacrificed Himself for us first.
Hope and determination are stronger than any war in our Holy Land.
Statements from the Holy Land
The Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land, the Patriarchs and Heads of the Christian Churches of Jerusalem, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Custody of the Holy Land have issued the following documents:
Statement of the Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem – Statement on the recent attack on crowds gathering to receive humanitarian aid.
March 1, 2024
The Latin Patriarchate condemns the unprovoked and shameful assault on Abbot Nikodemus Schnabel, Abbot of Dormition in Jerusalem, on Saturday, February 3.
Statement of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem following the killing of two women at the hands of an Israeli sniper inside the compound of the Catholic parish in Gaza
December 16, 2023
Statement of the Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem – Statement on the Celebration of Advent and Christmas in the Midst of the War
November 10, 2023
General Appeal by the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem
November 3, 2023
Letter to the Entire Diocese by the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, HB Pierbattista Pizzaballa, OFM
October 24, 2023
Statement of the Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem – Jerusalem’s Christian Spiritual Leaders Host the Archbishop of Canterbury and Collectively Call for Restraint, De-escalation of Violence, and Protection of Civilians
October 21, 2023
Statement of the Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem – Mourning civilian victims of the Massacre in Gaza and Extending solidarity to the episcopal diocese of Jerusalem
October 17, 2023
Call for Prayer and Fasting for Peace from the Patriarch of Jerusalem, Card. Pierbattista Pizzaballa, OFM
October 11, 2023
We ask that on Tuesday, October 17, everyone hold a day of fasting, abstinence, and prayer. Let us organize prayer times with Eucharistic adoration and with the recitation of the Rosary to Our Blessed Virgin Mary. Although most probably in many parts of our dioceses circumstances will not permit large gatherings, it is possible to organize simple and sober common moments of prayer in parishes, religious communities, and families.
Statement of the Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem on the Escalating Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza
October 13, 2023
An Invitation to pray for Peace – Custody of the Holy Land
October 10, 2023
Statement of the Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches of Jerusalem – Call For Peace And Justice Amidst Unfolding Violence
October 7, 2023
Novena “Blessed are the peacemakers”: the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network invites you to join this novena of prayer PEACEMAKERS