Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, vowed on Monday not to abandon Gaza's Christian community during a pastoral visit to the territory alongside Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III. The visit aimed to support both the dwindling Christian population and the wider Gaza community after years of war and hardship.
Visit to Holy Family Church
During a service at Gaza City's Holy Family Church, Pizzaballa said, “We want to bring the greetings from all the churches in Jerusalem, and to bring also our prayer and our desire for support and unity.” According to video published on the congregation’s Facebook page, he added, “We never abandoned you and you’ll never be abandoned.”
The visit comes as Gaza's Christian community, now numbering around 1,000 people, faces displacement, insecurity, and severe shortages of basic items alongside the rest of the population. The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem stated that the trip reflects “the pastoral responsibility of the Churches of Jerusalem toward the local churches and toward the whole population of Gaza, where families continue to endure grave humanitarian suffering, fear, loss and uncertainty.”
Meetings and Interfaith Dialogue
During their stay, Pizzaballa and Theophilos III are scheduled to meet clergy, religious communities, families, and others affected by the ongoing crisis. Pizzaballa is also expected to participate in an interfaith dialogue at Gaza’s Al-Azhar University later on Monday. The patriarchs are accompanied by representatives of the relief organization Malteser International.
Previous Visits
Pizzaballa previously traveled to Gaza a few days before Christmas last year to celebrate mass at the Holy Family Church. He also visited with Theophilos III last July, after Israeli fire struck the church, killing three people.
