Rome – On September 22, 2025, His Beatitude Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, delivered a video message during the prayer vigil dedicated to ending the war in Gaza and bringing peace to the Holy Land.
The vigil was organized by the Community of Saint Egidio at the Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere, Rome, and brought together faithful from different Movements and Associations to raise their voices in prayer against the violence in the Holy Land, expressing the deep suffering endured by its people amid an escalating cycle of bloodshed.
In his message, the Patriarch said: “We have left the field open to many extremists,” noting that the climate of hatred pervading the region makes the words of the Gospel, particularly the Beatitudes, sound almost contradictory to the current reality.
He added: “We are in a state of shock, deeply wounded,” expressing his sorrow that “the space has been left empty for extremists on both sides,” which has only fueled greater violence and division. At the same time, he emphasized the presence of many meek people in the Holy Land, both Israelis and Palestinians, who, with dedication and perseverance, continue to work for justice despite the great challenges they face, pointing out that these people represent a true hope for the future.
Reflecting on his thirty-five years of experience in the Holy Land, His Beatitude affirmed that he has never witnessed a period as harsh and complex as the present moment.
He concluded his speech with a clear call to persevere on the path of justice and truth, saying: “We must prepare for the day when the logic of force collapses and this structure built on violence crumbles, so that we can bring the power of meekness and gradually rebuild the future on the land that God has sanctified.
