Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, patriarch of Jerusalem, is under no illusions: «Even if there is a ceasefire in Lebanon, this does not mean that there will be peace. Peace is something else. In Gaza things will continue and God only knows how they will continue. We will not see the prospects of peace understood as peaceful relations between peoples soon, but we must prepare for them. The time will come when we will need to rebuild, not only physical structures, but relationships and we will need words, a language that helps to mend, restore, reconcile what this war has divided and torn apart. between people, between families.” For this reason, among the many words we are inundated with, it is important to find the Word with a capital P. «What for us», the cardinal continues, «is the starting and ending point, the place where we can find ourselves. This new version of the Word of God in Arabic is very important because, especially in our divided and torn conflict, where there are so many words of contempt, hatred, rejection, distrust, where the other is not the neighbor to be loved and forgiven, but a threat to be eliminated — when all this is so deeply rooted in our souls and local cultures -, having this ability to reach the Word of God without too many mediations, in one’s own language, opens up ever new and ever different perspectives and paths. Of course, it does not take anything away from the pain and suffering, but it leaves no room for hatred, resentment, contempt because it is a living Word, which is like a source from which new and ancient treasures can be brought out, those words of forgiveness of which we desperately need.” Many people arrive in Rome for the presentation of the Arabic edition of the Bible “Scrutinize the Word”. On the day in which the memory of Blessed Giacomo Alberione, founder of the Pauline family, is remembered, the San Paolo society launches an initiative that comes «as a sign for the Middle East which is so tormented today. When we started working we didn’t know what would happen, but today I think the fact that we were able to conclude the work in such a troubled moment is important for everyone. Christians need to draw from the Word, from the source and do it in their own language, with such an important set of notes it helps understanding”, he explains Don Francesco Voltaggiothe biblical scholar who, from Jerusalem, worked in close contact with Father Jean Azzambiblical scholar from Beirut. «We were divided by a wall, recently both under war, but we continued to work» they both say. They are convinced that «even if the initiative is not linked to current events, it can help Arab Christians, in the Holy Land and in the world. We hope”, they explain, “that knowledge above all of the Old Testament will help us to be a testimony to others. The greater the darkness, the more the light shines and we will be able to be peacemakers. The world presents more and more causes, opportunities, of hatred, of war, but when they find the right cause again, they will be able to bring this message of peace.”
«The times will not be short», adds the Patriarch of Jerusalem, «but we must think that the people who are fighting today are the same ones who will have to coexist tomorrow. The main mission I see for us in Terra Aanta is to tell others, our Muslim and Jewish brothers, words of reconciliation, of life, of peace, words that rebuild. In this terrible year of war, Jews and Muslims no longer speak to each other, but under the table they tell us if you Christians are also there we can meet, then there we Christians are called to say a word of hope, of perspective, this cannot be done by talking about ourselves but about Him, about that Word which is the foundation of our hope, I am sure that this work will help to open the hearts and minds of many people who, by knowing more about the Word of God, will know themselves more and will be able to say a solid word for the brothers and sisters they will meet.”
Fifty Arabic-speaking people from the Holy Land were present at the presentation. The superior general Don Domenico Soliman gave them 50 copies of the edition to take with them on their return home. A precious gift because, as Monsignor recalled Michel Aoun, bishop of Byblos (present at the event with monsignor Michel Jalakhof the Dicastery of the Eastern Churches and with the Coptic Catholic vicar of Cairo, Monsignor Hani Bakhou, Kiroulos), «is a sign of peace and hope that can be sown in the hearts of men and women living in war. In the midst of a conflict that is devastating Lebanon and the Middle East and in the face of a great fear that looms over our hearts, meeting in Rome for the Bible in Arabic reminds us that war destroys and kills, it only generates death and ‘hate and leaves a great desperation together with the desire for revenge. But in the face of the desolation of war, the Word of God arises as the only answer that opens a way in the midst of death. Our peoples of the Middle East need this response from the Word of God and the announcement that Christ has conquered death and destroyed the wall of enmity and separation between peoples. He is our peace and has come to announce peace. Therefore today’s celebration is a light that could illuminate the darkness of our world immersed in hatred. The book Scrutinize the Scriptures in Arabic is a precious gift for our countries in the Middle East, especially in this dark moment for our peoples.”
