The Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, published an extensive pastoral letter in which he offered a profound reflection on the mission of the Church in the Holy Land amid war, emphasizing that the city of Jerusalem "is not a spoil of war" but rather a heritage of humanity.
The document, titled "They Returned to Jerusalem with Great Joy," addressed the impact of the Hamas terrorist attacks of Oct. 7, 2023, and proposed a spiritual, pastoral, and communal path for Christians living in the region.
Jerusalem, 'heart of the world'
In one of the most forceful passages of the letter, the cardinal stated that "the heart of the world is in Jerusalem." He noted that millions of pilgrims arrive in the holy city every year and that their recent absence due to the war underscores its universal significance.
"Jerusalem belongs to no one exclusively; it belongs to everyone," he wrote, warning that events in the city affect "billions of believers" and pointing out that the international community has a duty to safeguard "Jerusalem's universal mission."
Pizzaballa denounced the "dehumanization of the other" and growing social fragmentation in which entire communities retreat into themselves.
He also warned of the loss of meaning of concepts such as "dialogue," "justice," or "human rights," which today seem hollow in the face of violence.
The mission of Jerusalem: 'To heal the nations'
In light of this landscape, the patriarch proposed a vision inspired by the Bible, specifically the Book of Revelation, in which Jerusalem appears as an open city, called to welcome and reconcile.
Within this framework, he said the vocation of the holy city is "therapeutic," to heal the world.
The cardinal insisted that Christians living there are not a neutral party to the conflict but rather living members of their societies, whether Arab, Israeli, Jordanian, or foreign, called to be "salt, light, and leaven" from within.
Rejecting violence and choosing life
The cardinal also said that living according to the Gospel entails a concrete choice: to reject the logic of violence, falsehood, and exclusion.
However, he clarified that this rejection is not a condemnation of individuals but rather of the systems of sin that deny human dignity. "The city with open doors does not expel but clearly defines what is incompatible with its very existence," he noted.
Concrete proposals for pastoral life
In the final section of the letter, the patriarch offered practical guidelines for Christian communities, highlighting the centrality of prayer and liturgy, the role of families as "domestic churches," and the importance of schools as a place for coexistence and formation.
"Prayer is not a means. It is a moment of love and encounter with God," he affirmed, emphasizing that it is "the heart, the breath. It is what keeps our community alive."
The prelate also highlighted the key role of education: Schools must be "true workshops of a new humanity," where people learn to coexist and engage in dialogue.
Likewise, the patriarch underscored the value of social works — hospitals, Caritas centers — as places where the encounter between people of different religions is already being lived out and highlighted the role of young people, families, priests, and religious men and women as protagonists of hope.
He also emphasized the urgency of ecumenical and interreligious dialogue, not only at the institutional level but also in daily life, and the need to educate for peace and respect.
A call to hope
The patriarch urged against succumbing to skepticism or despair despite ongoing violence. "The question is not how to escape the conflict but how to live within it as believers," he pointed out.
Finally, evoking the Gospel of St. Luke, he invited the faithful to "return to Jerusalem with joy" — not a naive joy but a paschal one, founded on the certainty that "light conquers darkness and love disarms hatred."
The cardinal concluded by entrusting this journey to the intercession of the Virgin Mary and reminding the faithful that, even amid war, the Church is called to be a living sign of hope.
This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
