Assisi: Christians in the Holy Land are exhausted by years of conflict, broken promises and uncertainty, and their greatest wish is to see lasting peace return to the region, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, has said.
Speaking in the Italian city of Assisi during the inauguration of the Global House of Friendship and Hope, an international initiative promoted by the Elijah Interfaith Institute, Cardinal Pizzaballa shared a sobering assessment of life in the Holy Land. He said the region is caught in a painful situation where there is neither full scale war nor genuine peace, leaving people trapped in fear and uncertainty.
The Cardinal was in Assisi for Pope Leo XIV's pastoral visit on August 6 and took the opportunity to speak with Vatican Media about the situation in Jerusalem, Gaza, the West Bank, Israel and Palestine.
He noted that many people are looking ahead to Israel's parliamentary elections on October 27 with hope that political change could improve the situation. However, he cautioned against expecting quick solutions.
According to Cardinal Pizzaballa, the challenges facing the Middle East have developed over many years and cannot be solved by one election alone. He said the region needs new leadership and fresh ideas, while acknowledging that it is ultimately the voters who will decide the country's future.
Describing the current atmosphere in Jerusalem, the Cardinal said tension remains extremely high. Although there are no widespread indiscriminate bombings at present, he explained that violence continues to shape everyday life and relationships across Gaza, the West Bank, Israel and Palestine.
He said the constant cycle of announcements about possible agreements followed by disappointment has left many people emotionally drained. Christians, like everyone else in the region, have grown tired of hearing hopeful news that is later contradicted by events on the ground.
This repeated pattern, he explained, has created a deep sense of mistrust among the population. Many people now find it difficult to believe even positive developments because they have become so accustomed to disappointment. As a result, hope itself has become harder to sustain.
Despite these challenges, Cardinal Pizzaballa insisted that hope has not disappeared completely.
He pointed to the many people across Gaza, the West Bank and Israel who continue to work for peace, dialogue and mutual understanding despite the risks involved. He said he regularly meets young people, professors and ordinary citizens who are willing to protect others and build relationships even when doing so may come at a personal cost.
According to the Cardinal, these individuals represent the healthy forces within society that continue to resist hatred and violence. Their efforts, he said, are preventing the conflict from completely destroying the social fabric of the region.
Reflecting on the Holy Family Parish in Gaza, which was struck by an Israeli rocket several months ago, Cardinal Pizzaballa said the parish community is slowly rebuilding its life.
The parish currently shelters 541 people, many of them elderly residents and people living with disabilities. He said Church workers know every person by name and are doing everything possible to restore a sense of normal life.
The Church has reopened a medical centre and is working to reopen the parish school. Priests and religious sisters are also organising activities for children, including children from families of different faiths, creating spaces where they can experience safety and hope despite the surrounding destruction.
Cardinal Pizzaballa said the Church's mission is to rebuild not only buildings but also a healthy and peaceful environment where people can recover from the trauma of war.
Looking ahead, he expressed concern that the region could remain stuck in an uncertain state where leaders continue discussing solutions without achieving meaningful progress.
He warned that such a prolonged situation risks creating deeper cynicism and distrust among ordinary people, describing this loss of confidence as one of the greatest dangers facing society today.
Turning to Pope Leo XIV's meeting with young people in Assisi, the Cardinal said young people remain the greatest hope for the future. While older generations preserve history and memory, he said it is the younger generation that will shape tomorrow's world.
He called for greater investment in young people so they can learn from past mistakes and build a more peaceful future than the one they have inherited.
Speaking about Pope Leo XIV, Cardinal Pizzaballa said the Pope remains closely connected to the people of the Holy Land and stays well informed about developments in the region. He added that a future papal visit to the Holy Land is expected, but said such a visit should take place in a peaceful and stable environment.
The Cardinal also reflected on the upcoming 40th anniversary of Saint John Paul II's historic interreligious prayer gathering in Assisi in October 1986. He said the anniversary should not simply become an occasion to remember the past with nostalgia.
Instead, he urged religious leaders and communities to see it as an opportunity to begin a new chapter in interfaith dialogue, building on past achievements while responding honestly to today's conflicts and challenges with renewed commitment to peace, understanding and cooperation.