Jerusalem’s top Christian leaders enter war-torn Gaza, vow: “We will never abandon you”

Jerusalem’s Latin Patriarch, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, and Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III made a rare and symbolic visit to war-ravaged Gaza on Monday, delivering a message of hope to the enclave’s besieged Christian community and civilians caught in nearly three years of conflict.

Standing inside Gaza City’s Holy Family Church, where Christians have sheltered since Hamas’s October 7 massacre triggered the war, Pizzaballa declared: “We never abandoned you, and you’ll never be abandoned.” The delegation also met clergy, displaced families, and humanitarian workers while reaffirming the churches’ commitment to relief efforts and the protection of human dignity.

The visit comes a year after an Israeli tank shell accidentally struck the Holy Family Church during fighting, killing three people. Israel expressed deep regret over the incident, stressing it does not deliberately target churches or religious sites. The patriarchs’ return underscores the determination of Jerusalem’s Christian leadership to remain present in Gaza despite the ongoing war and mounting humanitarian challenges.

Cardinal Pierbattista PizzaballaChristianityChristiansGazaGreek Orthodox PatriarchHoly Family ChurchIDFIsraelJerusalem’s Latin PatriarchPatriarch Theophilos III