VATICAN (CNS): “I would have never thought to begin today my speech with the dutiful, sad obligation to share and convey the sorrow that the Holy Father expressed yesterday [after the Angelus on October 8] about what is happening in Israel,” Pietro Cardinal Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, said on October 9 ahead of his speech at Rome’s Pontifical Gregorian University for a conference on the latest research into the Vatican archives of the period of Pope Pius XII’s pontificate before, during and after World War II.
“Unfortunately, terrorism, violence, barbarism and extremism undermine the legitimate aspirations of Palestinians and Israelis,” Cardinal Parolin said.
“In Israel, many Israeli brothers and sisters were awakened by a terrible and despicable attack. We are close to the families of the victims, to the thousands of wounded, to those who are missing and kidnapped and now in great danger,” the cardinal said.
“The Holy See is following with deep and grave concern the war that has been provoked, in which also many Palestinians in Gaza are losing their lives and many are displaced and wounded. Our closeness and prayers also go to their families and all civilians totally innocent,” he added.
“War is always the defeat of dignity and an occasion for not reaching any solution,” he said, hoping that all weapons would be silenced and reason prevail so that there can be pause to reflect on the right way to achieve peace in Israel and Palestine.
Unfortunately, terrorism, violence, barbarism and extremism undermine the legitimate aspirations of Palestinians and Israelis
Cardinal Parolin
The conference held a moment of silence. The attendees included Raphael Schutz, Israel’s ambassador to the Holy See, Rome’s Chief Rabbi Riccardo Di Segni; and a large number of Jewish scholars, including historian Deborah Lipstadt, the US special envoy to monitor and combat antisemitism.
Speaking to reporters outside the university, Cardinal Parolin said that, as Pope Pius taught, “peace is the fruit of justice.”
He said that as long as there is no just solution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, “these things will always be in danger of happening again and again with greater ferocity.”
Israel’s Embassy to the Holy See, in a statement October 9 called the attack is “a catastrophe of Biblical dimensions,” condemning the death of entire families and children who “were executed in cold blood” by Hamas and Islamic jihad militants.
It repeated what it said on October 7 about the “immorality of using linguistic ambiguity in such circumstances” and underlined the need to condemn “the hideous crime,” name the perpetrators and acknowledge “Israel’s basic right to defend itself against the atrocity.”
War is always the defeat of dignity and an occasion for not reaching any solution
Cardinal Parolin
The embassy expressed disappointment and frustration at “the text published by ‘the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem’” which it said demonstrates this “immoral linguistic ambiguity” by not being clear about “what happened, who were the aggressors and who the victims.”
It added, “It is especially unbelievable that such a sterile document was signed by people of faith.”
On October 7 the Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem united in a call for peace and justice amidst the unfolding violence, following the surprise attack by Hamas in southern Israel. They said that “stand in solidarity with the people of this region, who are enduring the devastating consequences of continued strife.”
Pierbattista Cardinal Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, expressed “condemnation” and great concern in an October 7 interview with the Italian Catholic daily, Avvenire. “We need to stop the violence and then apply diplomatic pressure to prevent the game of retaliation from becoming a vicious cycle from which it is difficult to escape. So [we must] try to bring back a minimum of reasonableness between the parties. Even if it seems difficult right now,” he said.
Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, has said the country is at war and defense minister, Yoav Gallant also ordered a “complete siege” of Gaza on October 9, CNN reported.
As of October 10, media reports said that more than 600 Gazans had been killed, with more than 100,000 displaced, Some 1,200 Israeli’s were reported killed—some shot at point-blank range, and around 150 kidnapped.
