As turmoil continues to scar Gaza and beyond, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, issued a fervent call to action, urging the Christian community to rise above despair and extend tangible support to the suffering. Echoing the plea for peace made by Pope Leo XIV, the Cardinal reminded believers that faith demands movement, not resignation.
In a heartfelt conversation with SIR news agency, Cardinal Pizzaballa reiterated a profound truth: the world doesn’t simply need an absence of conflict—it needs the divine peace that springs from Christ. “This is not about political truces or ceasefires,” he clarified. “What we yearn for is a peace that heals hearts, mends broken communities, and flows from a place of true love.”
Reflecting on Pope Leo’s inaugural homily, the Cardinal highlighted the poignant moment when Jesus asked Peter, “Do you love me?”—a question that, for Pizzaballa, encapsulates the entire Christian mission. If love for God and neighbor becomes our compass, then peace ceases to be an elusive dream and instead becomes an inevitable consequence.
Yet, in regions swallowed by violence, the notion of peace often feels like a cruel illusion. “We keep hearing the word ‘peace,’” he admitted, “but for those living in constant fear and pain, it sounds detached—like a far-off echo from another world.” Still, the Patriarch refused to let cynicism take root. Instead, he framed the Pope’s words as a summons—a challenge to Christians everywhere to anchor their unity not in fear, but in Christ’s love.
“Love that flows from faith,” he said, “has the power to ignite solidarity—even in the harshest of landscapes. That love must manifest in action, not sentiment.”
The gravity of the situation in Gaza was not lost on the Patriarch. With Pope Leo drawing attention to the plight of children, elders, and families enduring starvation amid restricted aid, Cardinal Pizzaballa delivered a sobering reminder: “We cannot afford the luxury of giving up or remaining passive.”
His message was not softened by ambiguity. “The duty is clear—we must do all that is humanly and spiritually possible to bring aid, comfort, and hope.” In the face of devastation, resignation is a betrayal. Action, rooted in love, is the only Christian response.
In a world bruised by division, Pizzaballa’s call resonates like a spiritual rallying cry: to build bridges, not walls; to choose compassion over complacency; and to seek not just peace, but peace with purpose.