Church prays for end to Gaza conflict

The Pope said Church leaders were "calling on worshippers to pray for the end to the conflict in the Gaza Strip and for justice and peace for their land.

LONDON (The Catholic Herald, UK) - Pope Benedict XVI has called on Israel and Hamas to "act immediately to end the current tragic situation" in Gaza as the death toll of the Israeli operation against the Hamas-controlled territory continued to rise amid heavy fighting.

The Pope, who plans to visit Israel in May, said he deplored the "refusal to dialogue" which had led to "indescribable worsening" of conditions for the population, "once again the victims of hatred and war".

The Pope said Church leaders were "calling on worshippers to pray for the end to the conflict in the Gaza Strip and for justice and peace for their land. I join in their prayers and invite you to do the same." He said Israel and Hamas must seek peace and that he was following the situation with "strong worry".

The Pope spoke on the same day that Israeli shells killed 30 people at a United Nations-run school. As the Herald went to press France and Egypt were leading a proposed UN-backed truce, while Israel had agreed to open a humanitarian corridor to the strip.

The Pope's words were echoed by Archbishop Patrick Kelly of Liverpool, who was due to visit Bethlehem and Jerusalem this week for the annual Holy Land Co-ordination trip to Israel.

He told the Herald that he would be emphasising the "great affection" English Catholics had for their "brothers in the Holy Land". He said the purpose of his 10th visit to the region would be "assisting the Christians to refuse to be silent in suffering injustice, and to help them achieve reconciliation".

Asked if he would be meeting Israeli officials he said: "Whatever will help them [the Christians]. We are always accompanying them." The archbishop added that Gaza was "a complex situation".

He visited the area two years ago. "We were made massively welcome, the warmth of the welcome from the Christian community made us feel very special," he said. "We went to as many places as possible as an assurance that we were accompanying them on their journey.

"Because of the current situation we had to seek advice on whether we wanted to go. The message we received from the Holy Land is that we would be welcomed. We pray for them, they carry all our prayers. There is a deep bond of affection between Catholics in this country and their brothers in the Holy Land."

He later added: "The conflict has deep roots but the priority now must be the immediate end to all violence. Violence is evil - especially when it blocks humanitarian relief desperately needed.

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"Because the roots are so deep and complex this outburst of violence cries out for such wise and courageous leadership that justice for all those for whom the Holy Land is home is achieved so that all violence is relegated to the past and peace shall be secured for generations to come."

The Israelis launched Operation Cast Lead on December 27, and the ground offensive a week later, in response to multiple rocket attacks launched from the Hamas-controlled Palestinian region.

Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need is to send emergency help to Gaza after speaking to the only Catholic priest in the territory. Speaking from the Holy Family Church in Gaza City, Mgr Manuel Musallam told the charity for persecuted Christians that his community was "struggling to stay alive", dodging the bombs and suffering from an acute shortage of food, water and shelter.

The priest had just conducted the funeral of 16-year-old Christine Wadi Turk, a student of Gaza City's Holy Family School, who was killed early last Friday. He said: "Most of the families are terrified and find it very difficult. They are suffering from bombs which are going off all around us. People are fearful but they do not want to give up. We have to remind people to be faithful to the Gospel and try as much as possible to keep hope."

Mgr Musallam said they were "drowning in blood" as hospitals overflowed with patients.

He said: "What you see on television cannot be compared to what is happening. The word love is choking in my throat... We are living like animals in Gaza. We cry and nobody hears us. I am asking God for mercy and pray that the light of Christianity continues to shine in Gaza."

Out of a population of 1.5 million in the Gaza Strip, there are 5,000 Christians, mostly Greek Orthodox, but also including 300 Catholics. Church leaders led by Latin Patriarch Fouad Twal of Jerusalem have united to condemn the violence in the region. Their words were echoed by Churchmen around the world.

Archbishop Mario Conti of Glasgow said he was "appalled" at the violence of both sides, while Cardinal Seán Brady of Armagh added his voice to calls for an immediate ceasefire.

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This story was made available to Catholic Online by permission of the Catholic Herald (www.madisoncatholicherald.org), the official newspaper of the Diocese of Madison, Wis.