October 10: The Holy Land / La Tierra Santa

Pray for peace. Reza por la paz.

In response to the continued tensions and violence that erupted into warfare between Gaza and Israel on October 7, Bishop David J. Malloy of Rockford, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on International Justice and Peace, calls for prayers for peace in the Holy Land:

“On October 7, the Feast of the Most Holy Rosary, the world watched the operation launched from Gaza and the rapid call to arms from Israel that ensued. Almost 50 years to the day of the launch of the 1973 Arab–Israeli War, once again war is spilling out in the Holy Land. With it brings the mounting casualties and hostilities unfolding on all sides, and increased threats to the Status Quo of the Holy Places among Jews, Muslims, and Christians further dimming any hope for peace.

The world is once again shocked and horrified by the outbreak of ferocious violence in the Holy Land. Reports have surfaced indicating large numbers of wounded and dead, including many civilians. I join with Pope Francis in his call for peace and his condemnation of this widespread outbreak of violence. As he stated in his Sunday audience, ‘May the attacks and weaponry cease. Please! And let it be understood that terrorism and war do not lead to any resolutions, but only to the death and suffering of so many innocent people.’

May all who love the Holy Land seek to bring about among all the parties engaged in the fighting a cessation of violence, respect for civilian populations, and the release of hostages. As we pray urgently for peace, we recall especially all the families and individuals suffering from these events.  We call on the faithful, and all people of good will to not grow weary and to continue to pray for peace in the land Our Lord, the Prince of Peace, called home.”

***

El Custodio Franciscano de Tierra Santa, P. Francesco Patton, afirmó que sigue muy de cerca, desde Jerusalén, lo que sucede en la guerra entre Israel y Gaza, y comentó que reza por las personas que han sido tomadas como rehenes en los últimos días.

Tras señalar que la inmensa mayoría de víctimas son civiles, el sacerdote franciscano explicó que “por las fotos de los propios soldados israelíes publicadas en los sitios, se puede ver que muchos de ellos son poco más que muchachos. Y rezo por los numerosos rehenes ahora cautivos en Gaza. Entre ellos también hay ancianos, mujeres, y niños. Por ahora, sólo puedo invitarlos a unirse a nosotros en una oración incesante para que se abra algún cauce de diálogo con vistas, si no a la paz, al menos al silenciamiento de las armas y al respeto de la población civil y de los prisioneros capturados.”

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