Middle East

“He chose Lebanon as his first country to make an apostolic visit. He’s coming to Lebanon on a pastoral visit to see his people,” Father Jean Younes said.

In a powerful sign of unity amid deep divisions, nearly 200 young Catholics from both Hebrew- and Arabic-speaking communities in Israel came together for the “Be Happy Youth Festival” on …

“(In) this time of war that has not ended for 14 years now, the teaching of St. Pope John Paul II is a very important reference point, above all.”

Now “is clearly the time to embark upon the very long pathway of healing and reconciliation that is so profoundly needed between Palestinians and Israelis.”

Amid a sea of destruction, bringing in the materials that the strip requires without limitations” is crucial, said Joseph Hazboun of CNEWAPontifical Mission.

As a peace deal nears, Father Gabriel Romanelli, pastor of Gaza City’s Catholic parish, said the entire Gaza Strip has experienced a “tsunami” of destruction.

“We hope we can dedicate all our energy now not to rebuild just the infrastructure but the human life devastated by this war.”

“Much still needs to be defined. We must not delude ourselves, but we are pleased that something new and positive is on the horizon.”

Inon and his siblings issued a joint statement rejecting revenge in the name of their parents and spoke out about the deaths of civilians in Gaza.

“There is no longer any trust, no human interest of one side in the other. It is an inhumanity that is almost incomprehensible.”