Vatican Nuncio in Holy Land appeals for dialogue to end Israel-Gaza conflict

(Vatican Radio)  As casualties continue to mount in the war between Hamas and Israel, diplomatic efforts to stop the conflict are underway. U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry headed to Cairo Monday to try to renew cease-fire efforts aimed at ending the fighting. 

On Sunday, Pope Francis’ renewed his appeal for dialogue and an end to the violence.

In an interview with Vatican Radio, the Holy See’s Nuncio to Israel and Apostolic Delegate in Jerusalem and Palestine, Archbishop Giuseppe Lazzarotto said, “The Holy Father's words have had a major impact here and were taken from all official media, both print as well as radio stations and broadcasters. Everyone has repeated the appeal of the Holy Father. That's what we all hope here because the situation is becoming truly tragic: there is a loss of human life that is not acceptable; we must put an end to violence because this creates other conflict situations. They open new wounds that continue to produce even more death. It is urgent that those responsible understand that there is no other path than that of dialogue and negotiation; stakeholders must be helped and should be brought to the negotiating table.”

Last month in the Vatican Pope Francis hosted a day of prayer for peace together with Israeli President Shimon Peres and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.  The Pontiff followed up that encounter this past weekend with a phone call urging the two leaders to press for peace.  What the Holy Father has done, says Archbishop Lazzarotto, is “to sow” the first seed of dialogue. 

“Now, let us surround this seed with care, make it grow and make it bear the fruit that it should give; understand the meaning of the gesture of the Pope and translate it into concrete actions such as the Holy Father is urging continuously. It takes concrete actions and courage.  The Pope pointed out many times: peace needs courageous gestures. It is time for political leaders of all parties to understand this and move in this direction.

“People are tired,” the Archbishop continues, because the conflict has “lasted too long. These recurring incidents of conflict naturally create more frustration, but most of the people want peace.”

With the resources it has available, the Church in the Holy Land, he says, does everything it can in this situation to help.  As an example of concrete gestures, he indicates the on-site assistance that local Catholic aid agencies such as Caritas are able to offer “to bring immediate help to these people who are directly affected.”

Archbishop Lazzarotto concludes his remarks with an appeal to pilgrims to not stay away from the Holy Land, noting that “many pilgrims have canceled their trip, their pilgrimage: But I say that coming to the Holy Land is also a nice gesture of solidarity. It helps to know that other Christians - despite everything - come here.”