Hundreds of tons of food supplies, emergency room kit and urgent medical equipment. Patriarch of Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa, with the Orthodox Theophilus III oneentered Gaza on the morning of 18 to bring support not only to the Christian community, but to the greatest number of families.
The two patriarchs, who were reached, at the entrance, by the call from Pope Leo who encouraged them, immediately headed towards the Latin parish of the Holy Family damaged by Israeli attacks of 17 July, to meet Father Gabriel Romanelli, who was also injured in the circumstance. They brought the condolences to the families of the three victims, met the wounded and comforted the population.
Pizzaballa has made it known that it will personally evaluate “the humanitarian and pastoral needs of the community, to contribute and guide the presence and continuous response of the Church”. The Latin Patriarchate also guaranteed theevacuation of people injured in the attack towards medical structures outside Gaza, where they will receive the necessary care.
“We pray for the safety of the delegation and for the suspension of military activities during the visit,” said the local church while the Pope, Cardinal Pizzaballa has announced, “expressed his closeness, his affection, his prayer his support and also his intention to do everything possible because he arrives not only at the ceased the fire but at the end of this tragedy. Pope Leone has repeated several times that it is time to end up with this massacre and that what happened is unjustifiable and we must make sure that there are no more victims ».
The Cardinal, “on behalf of the Latin patriarchate, but also of all the churches of the Holy Land”, thanked the Pontiff for “this closeness, for the prayer of which we were already insured previously and we also assure him by the whole community of Gaza, brothers and sisters, priests, religious and religious, prayer and thanks”.
