Amidst the Rubble, A Cardinal Brings a Candle of Hope
In a powerful gesture of solidarity, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa has entered Gaza on a three-day Christmas visit, making a pilgrimage to the besieged Holy Family Parish—the region’s sole Catholic church. This sacred site has served as both a sanctuary and a target; since the conflict’s escalation, it has sheltered hundreds of displaced people while suffering a devastating tank attack in July that killed three and injured its priest. Greeted by children in Santa hats amidst the ruins, the Cardinal’s presence itself is a profound message, embodying the Church’s stubborn commitment to a flock living under relentless threat. His journey goes beyond mere assessment; it is a living testament to the belief that faith must stand where hope is most fragile.
Cardinal Pizzaballa’s mission blends spiritual comfort with a defiant promise for the future. As he prepares to celebrate Christmas Mass and review humanitarian efforts for Gaza’s tiny Christian community—a mere thousand among 2.2 million—his words offer a cornerstone for resilience: “We will rebuild. We will rebuild our schools… our houses… our life.” Declaring “We are rooted here and we remain here,” the Patriarch transformed a pastoral visit into a bold proclamation of permanence. In a landscape scarred by destruction, his vow to rebuild echoes the Christmas promise of light dawning in the darkness, insisting that even the deepest wounds cannot erase a community’s ancient roots and future.
