Pope Francis and the Vatican faced similar backlash in February of 2022, when Russian forces invaded Ukraine. At the time, the international community and Ukraine asked the pope to openly condemn Russia as the aggressor. While the pope eventually spoke out against the Russian invasion, he also stressed the importance of dialogue with all parties in promoting peace.
Francis asked faithful to join Pizzaballa for a day of fasting and prayer for peace in the Holy Land. “It’s the only thing we are able to do,” the Latin Patriarch said, adding that all Christian denominations are joining in a sign of unity.
Pizzaballa said he is willing to be exchanged with a hostage if necessary. “I would do anything if it would ensure freedom to one of these children and bring them home,” he said, adding that resolving the hostage situation is essential to avoid a further escalation of the conflict.
The situation in the Holy Land risks expanding to the entire world, Pizzaballa observed. “In order to have a mediation, you need interlocutors, which are very hard to come by at the moment,” he said, adding that, in the current environment of hostility, there is a “great hardness of spirits.”
“We are trying to promote listening to one another, but it’s not without difficulty,” he added.
This article originally appeared here.
