My heart is heavy with sadness at the extreme violence, cruelty and barbarism that has been exhibited along the border of Gaza and Israel begun by the Hamas incursion last Saturday. I call on all our brothers and sisters to join me in praying that this conflict will soon be resolved so that all might experience the security and safety that every human being deserves.
May we pray without ceasing that those injured will be healed, those held hostage will be freed, and hearts hardened by hatred will be changed. As Pope Francis recently said, “Terrorism and extremism do not help reach a solution to the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians but fuel hatred, violence, revenge and cause suffering for both sides.”
May God bless all those who are suffering, protect the innocent, and work through each of us as instruments of peace to end the horrific hostilities in a land considered most holy by the children of Abraham.
I exhort our Catholic faithful to make use of the rosary to beseech our Holy Mother Mary for her powerful intercession for all of suffering humanity.
Related: Statement of U.S. Bishops’ International Justice and Peace Chairman Amidst Violence in the Holy Land