Jerusalem Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa himself would act as a hostage if it meant “the children would be freed.” The church was recently criticized for not clearly criticizing the Hamas terrorist attack. The cardinal resolutely opposed the accusations.
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa offered himself in Jerusalem in exchange for Hamas hostages. “If children like these could be released and returned home, it would not be a problem,” responded the Latin Catholic Patriarch of Jerusalem to a journalist’s question at an online press conference held in Italian on Monday, adding: “For my part , the will exists.”
To find a way out of the current situation, it is necessary for the hostages to return, Pizzaballa said, according to Catholic news agency Kathpress. He spoke of a concrete element and a gesture that could lead to a reconsideration of current development. “Otherwise it will be very difficult to stop this development,” said the Patriarch of Jerusalem. He alluded to Israel’s expected ground offensive in the Gaza Strip.
In recent days, Pope Francis has also called for the release of the hostages. Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin offered the Vatican to mediate the matter. The Holy See wants to try to ensure that at least some of those kidnapped can return, Pizzaballa said. However, it is difficult to talk to Hamas.
Pope calls for humanitarian corridor
During Sunday’s Angelus prayer, Pope Francis called for the creation of humanitarian corridors for the population of the Gaza Strip. “Humanitarian law must be respected, especially in the Gaza Strip, where there is an urgent need to guarantee humanitarian corridors and help the population,” said the pope.
It must be ensured “that children, the sick, the elderly, women and civilians do not become victims of the conflict”. The Pope also called on the radical Islamic group Hamas to release all hostages.
The terrorist organization attacked Israel with rockets on October 7. Furthermore, terrorists invaded the national territory, murdered around 1,400 people and kidnapped up to 200 people to Gaza. Israel responded with counterattacks centered on the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. The death toll in the Gaza Strip has been reported at 2,750 so far on Monday.
Distance from the statement about the Hamas attack
At the online press conference, Patriarch of Jerusalem Pizzaballa also distanced himself from statements made by Christian churches regarding Hamas attacks on Israel. “I’m angry too. Out of respect for other churches, I do not want to add anything to this,” said the cardinal. Pizzaballa also stated: “Let me be clear: Hamas committed barbaric acts in Israel.”
The Latin Catholic Patriarchate of Jerusalem, along with other Christian churches, published statements about the war on October 7th and 13th. Israel was angered by this and criticized both statements because they lacked clear condemnation of the Hamas attacker.
Israel calls for “unequivocal condemnation”
Israel expects the Vatican to “clearly and unequivocally condemn the murderous acts of terror committed by Hamas terrorists.” Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen called for this in a telephone conversation with the Holy See’s Secretary for Relations with States, Paul Gallagher, on Sunday night.
Cohen called for the condemnation of Hamas, which targets women, children and the elderly “just because they are Jews and Israelis.” It is “inconceivable that the Vatican’s main concern is for the citizens of the Gaza Strip while Israel is burying 1,300 murdered people,” Cohen said, according to Italian media. (kap/APA)