He brought aid and tangible goods, a load of 500 tons between the emergency room kit and the medical equipment of urgent need to be allocated to as many families as possible, not only Christian. But above all he brought warm hugs and condolences to the injured, to the parishioners and all those who attend the compound of the Catholic Church of the Holy Family of Gaza, hit yesterday by an Israeli raid. It could only be characterized by a mission of Cardinal Pizzaballa in the stripthe day after of the “error” (in the words of the premier Benjamin Netanyahu) of the Idf who caused three deaths and about ten injured in the small and symbolic Latin church, a forecast of resistance for about 500 refugees inside.
The cardinal were shown the places damaged by the Raid, in particular the front wall of the church on which, however, the Campanile made to resonate to party this morning to invoke “peace”after last night a mass was celebrated in suffrage of the victims. Then Pizzaballa e Teofilo III, Greek-Orthodox patriarch of Jerusalem, He too present together with the Catholic homologous, visited the sick, the disabled and the many children refuge in the structure greeting them with warm handshake and blessing them one by one. Father Gabriel Romanelli, the parish priest, was also accompanied by one leg and vice-parish priest.
Pizzaballa was also accompanied by an escort with anti -project jacket, but in turn, very significantly, He brought with him the secretary of the Apostolic Nunciature in Israel. A pontifical representative, therefore, that as had been for the attackers of the settlers in Taybeh, will have a detailed relationship, also to get to know the needs of the community better and study new aid. Pizzaballa’s gaze was serene, consoling but not saddened. His face was serious, however, when he was brought in the species of field hospital set up inside the compound, in particular in front of a child who presented an amputated limb and the other seriously injured.
Before leaving this morning early from Jerusalem, Pizzaballa received the call from Leone XIV himself from Castel Gandolfo. “He called to express his closeness, his affection, his prayer, his support – explained the Patriarch – and also his intention to do everything possible because we arrive not only at the ceased the fire but at the end of this tragedy”. The other patriarchs and leaders of the churches of Jerusalem are also felt that in a note, on the attack on the churchdeclare: «We firmly denounce this crime. Places of worship are sacred spaces that should be protected. They are also protected by international law. Take a church that hosts about 600 refugees, including children with special needs, is a violation of these laws. It is also an affront to human dignity, a trampling of the sacredness of human life and the desecration of a sacred place ».