Catholic leaders in the Holy Land are urging Christians to return on pilgrimage to the region now that a ceasefire has been established between Israel and Hamas.
In a video, the Latin patriarch, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, and the custos of the Holy Land, Franciscan Father Francesco Patton, walk through Jerusalem, talking to pilgrims and shopkeepers who have endured streets emptied of tourists since the 7 October, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel and the subsequent 15-month war.
The area is safe, the Holy Land church leaders stressed. Father Patton emphasised the spiritual importance of visiting holy sites.
Cardinal Pizzaballa called the ceasefire a “turning point” for the Holy Land, thanking churches worldwide for their support during the challenging year.
Father Gabriel Romanelli from Gaza City’s Holy Family Parish expressed hope for lasting peace, despite the ongoing challenges.
He said his parishioners started to check on their houses and some discovered that they have been completely destroyed while others have not yet even been able to recognise where their old neighbourhoods are located.
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