The Church must confront its silence on the Middle East conflict and recognise the suffering of all victims, especially Palestinians. Addressing this is essential for maintaining moral credibility, supporting interfaith dialogue, and continuing the path set by Nostra Aetate. While global attention was focused on the U.S. elections, people continued to die in the most Read more
Pope Francis criticised on Monday what he called the “shameful inability” of the international community to end the war in the Middle East, one year after Hamas’ devastating attack on Israel. “A year ago, the fuse of hatred was lit; it did not sputter, but exploded in a spiral of violence,” he said in an Read more
Despite renewed discussions in Cairo between Israel and Hamas, as well as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s mention of a “last chance” negotiation, the hope for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip continues to fade. Once again, it seems that the negotiations, which resumed August 21 in Cairo, are likely to fail. During the Read more
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa has issued a stark warning regarding the ongoing conflict in the Holy Land. Pizzaballa says that the current negotiations represent the “last chance” for peace between Israel and Hamas. Speaking at the Rimini Meeting in Italy, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem described the situation as a “fateful moment”, calling for an immediate Read more
Amidst the ongoing Gaza conflict, a parishioner at the region’s sole Catholic parish has illuminated the daily challenges faced by the community. In a letter published in the Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano, Suhail Abo Dawood emphasised the significance of practices like daily Mass and the Rosary amidst the backdrop of war and food scarcity. “We Read more
Our attitudes to war change drastically when it becomes personal. When it is distant, it involves people whose nationality and culture we do not share, and wrongs of whose cause are disputed. But it does not affect us at gut level. When it is someone who has walked our streets, swum on our beaches, speaks Read more
Cardinal Pietro Parolin denounced the October 7 Hamas attacks against Israel and all forms of antisemitism while raising concerns about Israel’s assertion of self-defence amidst the “carnage” inflicted on Gaza. Questioning the proportionality of Israel’s military operation, Parolin highlighted the significant death toll. “Israel’s right of self-defence which has been invoked to justify this operation Read more
Recently, we have been hearing Israeli and diaspora Jewish voices expressing disappointment at the Catholic Church’s reaction to the terrorist attacks of Oct. 7. The claim is that the pope has not sufficiently condemned the crimes of Hamas and, furthermore, that he has created a symmetry between Hamas and Israel in his comments. If that Read more
Over the last weeks the war between Israel and Hamas has come to Australia. In our local park each junction of the path is marked by a stenciled message demanding a ceasefire and withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza. Large, mainly peaceful, demonstrations in favour of the people of Gaza and of Israel have been Read more
Nothing will ever be the same in the Holy Land after the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel – and after Israel’s apocalyptic response. So said Francesca Albanese to a Catholic audience in Wellington recently. Albanese is the UN’s Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories. But the Israel-Palestine issue has a simple solution, she Read more