*Unofficial translation, for any quoted material, please refer back to the original text in Italian - Translated by the Media Office of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
Most Holy Father,
On behalf of the Patriarchs, the Bishops of the Ordinariates, and the entire Christian community of our region, I wish to express our sincerest gratitude for the letter you sent us on October 7, and for the beautiful gesture of closeness and affection. A big thank you, because you are the only world leader who considers the suffering of all, reminding us of the necessity to not lose our humanity, even in these challenging times.
We joyfully received your letter, in which, in addition to expressing your solidarity, you also provide us with precious guidance to continue living through this long night that seems never-ending, but we know will one day come to an end.
Your letter has stimulated some reflections, which we have shared among many of us, and I convey them to you, acting as a spokesperson for the thoughts, concerns, and hopes of bishops, priests, religious, and the faithful.
Since October 7, a year has passed in which the spiral of violence, ignited by the “fuse of hatred,” as you have defined it, has once again plunged all our countries into a war that seems endless, sowing death and destruction, not only in physical structures but also in the lives of people and relationships at every level.
October 7 was also the day when all our communities gathered in fasting and prayer, in unity with you, Holy Father, to implore the gift of peace for all our peoples. These are our weapons, the “weapons of love.” They are our response to the growing mistrust that seems to spread not only in the hearts of rulers but also among us.
In this painful time, we will continue not only to stand by the holy people and all those who suffer, but also to “let our hearts be touched,” putting aside our priorities to continue serving our people in every possible way. In this context of deeply rooted hatred, there is indeed a need for empathy, gestures, and words of love that, while they may not change the course of events, provide comfort and consolation, which we all desperately need. In these months, priests, religious, and laypersons have stood by the communities and individuals in distress, even in the most dangerous places. Many volunteers from our communities have not held back in helping their brothers and sisters despite the danger.
We will not surrender to events that seem to drive us apart, but we will always strive to be thirsty builders of peace and justice, without yielding to the logic of evil that seeks to divide. We do not hide that it is not easy, humanly speaking, in these circumstances to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us (cf. Mt 5:44), but we do not cease to ask God for this gift and this freedom in prayer. We are inspired by many examples of men and women of all faiths who, in these months, despite being personally affected by violence and death, have had the inner strength to not yield to the logic of hatred, but have been able to speak words of forgiveness and show gestures of understanding and hope. They are the “little remnant” from which we can start again.
The dialogue among us believers of different faiths has been wounded. Suspicion seems to have prevailed among some of us. But we are committed to resuming relations, to rebuilding the trust that seems to have been fractured, and to making faith a place of encounter rather than a pretext for division. From this difficult moment, we must learn to make our future relationships even stronger and more sincere, in order to build authentic and serious contexts of peace and respect.
We will not cease to be spokespeople for your many calls for a cessation of hostilities, as a necessary premise to then initiate real and serious processes that may one day lead to new and peaceful balances in the Middle East. This region, in fact, needs leaders with a new vision, people capable of expressing the richness and beauty that still exist here and that the war has not completely marred. The idea that military strategies can bring about positive changes for our region is an illusion. As you have rightly reminded us: “History shows this, yet years and years of conflict seem to have taught us nothing.” Violence will indeed produce more violence, creating more hatred in younger generations and further fueling the various fundamentalisms that have tormented and blocked our region for too long.
Instead, we need development, investment in education, teaching peace, and providing our young people with a serene living environment on which they can build their hope here, in these tormented lands, which are still the Place “most spoken of in the Scriptures,” and in which our roots lie.
Despite our many limitations, we will strive to be a serene, firm, and free voice for the voiceless. We are committed to not abandoning any of those who knock on our doors and drawing near to all those who today are in pain, in need, and alone.
We know we are not alone and that you are with all those who “suffer from the folly of war.” We will bring your word of peace, closeness, and consolation to all our faithful and to all the people we encounter.
Thank you, Holy Father!
In prayer, we continue to implore peace, trusting in the work of God, Lord of time and history.
With the intercession of the Most Holy Virgin, we entrust to God all your intentions and your precious ministry in service of the universal Church, of which you are the Supreme Pastor.