US EditionHoly Land’s top Catholic leader visits Gaza parish, greeted by children in Santa hats and keffiyeh
Cardinal Pizzaballa led Mass and pastoral rites at Gaza's only Catholic church, supporting 400 displaced Christians amid ongoing war hardships and a fragile ceasefire.
- On Dec. 19, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, visited Holy Family Parish in Gaza City during a Dec. 19–21 pastoral trip and will preside over Christmas Mass on Dec. 21.
- The patriarchate says the visit aims to accompany the faithful in hope, solidarity and prayer and to reaffirm ties with the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem while Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa meets local clergy led by Father Gabriel Romanelli to review community needs and humanitarian efforts.
- In the courtyard, children greeted him wearing Santa hats and keffiyeh amid twinkling lights while 160 children rehearsed Christmas programs and volunteers handed out sweets.
- Sunday Mass brought sacraments and celebration, including seven first communions and baptisms at Holy Family Parish, while relief efforts recently aided 5,000 families with communal meals and distributions.
- Amid a fragile ceasefire and ongoing shortages, the Holy Family compound was struck in July, killing three people, with 50% of essential medicines lacking and 1,017 Christians recorded in the Gaza Strip before the war.
63 Articles
63 Articles
The Tablet
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa Visits Gaza City’s Holy Family Parish Before Christmas
by Tablet Staff (OSV News) – In a sign of closeness as Christmas approaches, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, accompanied by the Latin Patriarchal Vicar Bishop William Shomali and a small delegation, arrived in Gaza Dec. 19 for a pastoral visit to the Holy Family Parish. During his visit, he “will review the current situation of the parish, including the humanitarian response, ongoing relief and rehabilitation effo…
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, head of the Catholic Church in the Holy Land, visited the Gaza Strip once again to celebrate the Christmas Mass. The largest part of the Christian community, reduced to 600 people, still lives in the parish.
‘We are still here.’ Catholic patriarch leads Christmas Mass at Gaza church bombed by Israel during the war
The most senior Catholic cleric in the Holy Land urged Palestinians “not just to survive” but to “rebuild life” in Gaza as he led Christmas Mass there on Sunday, against the backdrop of apocalyptic destruction and displacement.
The cardinal has been visiting the community of the Crusaded Strip for over two years of conflict. Tomorrow the traditional solemn mass with a thought aimed at 'reconstruction' and 'curing hearts'. Appeal of the patriarchs and Christian leaders of Jerusalem for the sick children of Gaza, to be welcomed and treated in the August Victoria Hospital.
The Cardinal for Christmas visits the parish of the Holy Family: "We will not forget what happened, but now we look forward"
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