Vatican Expresses 'Profound Concern' for Gaza Christians

By By Jenna Lyle
untitled1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111.bmp
A Palestinian man looks through a door as he stands in a home commandeered by Israeli soldiers during the recent Gaza offensive, in Gaza City, Monday, March 23, 2009. The Hebrew graffiti on the wall reads 'The eternal people has no fear', bottom, and 'Shaked', a name referring to an army battalion. In recent testimony, several Israeli soldiers confirmed they were engaged in unnecessary destruction. (Photo: AP / Hatem Moussa)

Vatican officials have expressed “profound concern” for the plight of Christians in the Middle East, following the recent conflict in the Gaza Strip between Israel and Hamas.

Cardinal Leonardo Sandri and Archbishop Antonio Maria Veglio have sent a letter to bishops across the world requesting a contribution for the Holy Land, according to a statement on Wednesday.

In the letter, they spoke of how Pope Benedict XVI “constantly comforts Christians, and all the inhabitants of the Holy Land, with special words and gestures, coupled with his desire to make a pilgrimage in the historical footsteps of Jesus," as reported by the Italy-based Adnkronos International.

"The wounds opened by violence make the problem of emigration more acute, inexorably depriving the Christian minority of its best resources for the future," the letter states.

The clergymen also warned that, "The land that was the cradle of Christianity risks ending up without Christians."

During the conflict in Gaza, which broke out last December and spilled into January, over 1,330 Palestinians were killed and 5,400 were injured. The destruction of the conflict has left many people without shelter, food or water, according to aid agencies and the United Nations.

On Thursday, Israeli military disputed Palestinian claims that the majority of the dead were civilians.

Maj. Avital Leibovich, an army spokeswoman, said a total of 1,166 Palestinians were killed in the operation, and 709 were Hamas militants, 295 were civilians, including 89 minors and 49 women. The figures were determined through an investigation that the military had completed.

The figures conflicted with the Palestinian Center for Human Rights' report last week that said 1,417 people were killed, and more than 900 were civilians. Its toll included the names and ages of all of the dead.

Both sides were accused of breaching conventional rules of war during the conflict. Hamas, which is officially recognized as a terrorist organization, was accused of deliberately using Palestinians as human shields in order to increase the civilian body count and thus bring more international condemnation upon Israel.

Israel was accused of using white phosphorous weapons in civilian areas, which is illegal under international law.

The Pope is set to visit Israel and the Palestinian territories on May 8.

  • ‘Wang Mingdao’s Diary’ reproduction highlights complexities of contemporary Chinese Christianity

    On December 9, the China Graduate School of Theology (中国神学研究院) hosted a public lecture titled “A Courageous Witness in the Times—Launch of Wang Mingdao (王明道)’s Diary.” The lecture, themed “Faith Patterns in Beijing’s Christian Churches Through the Lens of Wang Mingdao’s Diary,” featured Dr. Ni Buxiao (倪步晓), Associate Director and Assistant Professor at the Christian Faith and Chinese Culture Research Center of Alliance Bible Seminary (建道神学院), as the keynote speaker.

  • Floating library ‘Doulos Hope’ arrives in Taiwan; spreading love and hope from a former cruise ship

    Doulos Hope, the international floating book fair ship, has returned to Taiwan and is now docked at Kaohsiung Port, open to the public from December 18, 2024, to January 12, 2025. Originally built in 1991 and renovated in 2022, the ship features over 2,000 books on various topics, including faith, science, and art. It is operated by a diverse crew of 140 volunteers from 25 countries, offering services such as education, healthcare, and community outreach. The ship's mission is to spread hope and

  • Chinese Online School of Theology publishes annual ministry report: Expanding Chinese theological education through new strategies

    In the 2023-2024 academic year, New York-based Chinese Online School of Theology (COST) has seen significant development in expanding its ministry in theological education and mission outreach. They have promoted a series of new events and projects to explore different strategies that expand theological education for Chinese ministers. The following are some highlights from the 2023-2024 annual report:

  • Dr. Fenggang Yang: How foreign forces transformed traditional Chinese legal systems

    In a recent lecture to Chinese Christians, scholar Dr. Fenggang Yang (杨凤岗) gave an in-depth analysis of the historical evolution and contemporary significance of the modern legal system in Chinese society. He explored the tensions and integrations between traditional law and modern rule of law, highlighting the distinctive characteristics of China’s traditional legal system and emphasizing the role of foreign influences in introducing modern legal practices into Chinese society.

Top Stories