The most senior Catholic leader in the Holy Land made a significant pastoral visit to the Gaza Strip's sole Catholic parish on Friday, 19 December 2025, bearing a message of Christmas hope as a tentative calm persists in the war-ravaged territory.
A Symbolic Visit Amid Fragile Calm
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, was welcomed at the Holy Family church compound by children wearing a poignant mix of Santa hats and keffiyehs—the checkered scarf emblematic of Palestinian identity. The courtyard, adorned with festive lights and decorations, provided a stark yet hopeful contrast to the surrounding devastation.
The visit coincides with an Israel-Hamas ceasefire now extending into its third month, allowing conditions to slowly improve. Addressing a gathering of several dozen people, the Cardinal acknowledged the profound difficulties but highlighted signs of resilience. "I know the situation is difficult, but I see with the children, the school, the activities, a little light of hope," he stated in English.
A Community's Resilience and a Call to Heal
Pizzaballa praised the local Christian community as a "wonderful testimony, not only of resilience, but of faith and hope for many people not just in Gaza, but many other parts of the world." He emphasised their role as a "stable, solid reference point in this sea of destruction" as the painstaking work of rebuilding begins.
The Cardinal also addressed the trauma of a past tragedy at the very site. In July, fragments from an Israeli shell struck the Holy Family compound, killing three people—an incident Israel described as an accident and expressed regret over. "We cannot forget what happened. And we will never forget. But now we have to look forward," Pizzaballa urged. "We need to cure, to heal our hearts."
Christmas Preparations Continue Despite Hardship
Inside the church, the Cardinal and other clergy prayed by the Christmas tree and Nativity scenes. The parish's pastor, Father Gabriel Romanelli, reported that holiday activities are proceeding despite severe ongoing challenges, including widespread displacement, crippling food prices, and unreliable electricity.
In his daily Spanish-language YouTube updates, Romanelli noted the recent cold snap, with temperatures dropping to 7°C (45°F). However, he shared that the parish school's 160 children are actively rehearsing Christmas programmes and preparing a traditional Nativity scene. Pizzaballa is scheduled to celebrate Sunday Mass at the parish, continuing a tradition he maintained even during the height of the conflict.
The visit, facilitated by the sustained but fragile truce, stands as a powerful symbol of spiritual solidarity and the enduring search for peace and normalcy in Gaza.
