By CatholicVote | Created at 2025-01-21 21:56:00 | Updated at 2025-01-24 08:24:51
2 days ago
CV NEWS FEED // Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, invited Christians to return to the Holy Land for pilgrimages, assuring that such a trip is safe now that Israel and Hamas have reached a ceasefire.
In a video posted by Vatican News to X, Cardinal Pizzaballa and Father Francesco Patton, the Custos of the Holy Land, thanked Christians around the world for their support of the Holy Land.
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, invites Christians to return to the Holy Land on pilgrimage.
Joined by the Custos of the Holy Land, Fr. Francesco Patton, the Patriarch says Jerusalem is safe with the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. pic.twitter.com/83ZpNwgfqM
“I want to express the appreciation we have for all the universal Church, for the support, for the prayer, for the unity and solidarity they expressed for the Holy Land,” Cardinal Pizzaballa said. “But now is about time also to continue to express solidarity to the Holy Land.”
He reminded Christians, “The source and the origin of hope is here at the Holy Sepulcher with Jesus, the Risen Lord. There is no danger, even now, even more with the ceasefire. So it’s about time to take courage and come here.”
Fr. Patton added that the Holy Sepulcher “is one of the three holy places indicated for pilgrimage during the Jubilee for the Holy Land.”
“We are waiting for you, because when you come as pilgrims to the Holy Land, our small Christian community feels that we are part of a great family, that is, the great family of Christians, the Catholic Church, and Christians living around the world,” he continued. “And so please don’t fear. Don’t be afraid. Come! The pilgrimage is safe, and we are waiting for you.”
The Israel-Palestine ceasefire went into effect Jan. 19, as CatholicVote previously reported. The deal came after Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, met with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu just days before Trump’s inauguration.
