Latin and Orthodox Church Leaders issued a joint appeal urging an immediate end to the war in Gaza and emphasizing the critical need for humanitarian aid.
Newsroom (23/07/2025, Gaudium Press ) Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, and Patriarch Theophilos III, Greek Orthodox Patriarch, issued a powerful joint appeal today, urging an immediate end to the war in Gaza and emphasizing the critical need for humanitarian aid. Speaking at a press conference, the religious leaders condemned the ongoing violence and called for global leaders to prioritize peace, the release of detainees, and the restoration of dignity to the people of Gaza and the broader Holy Land.
Cardinal Pizzaballa underscored the Church’s unwavering support for humanitarian workers risking their lives amid the crisis. “Humanitarian need is not only necessary—it is a matter of life and death,” he declared. “Refusing it is not a delay, but a sentence. Every hour without food, water, medicine, and shelter causes deep harm.” He described the denial of aid as “morally unacceptable and unjustifiable,” highlighting the catastrophic toll of the conflict on civilians.
The Patriarchs’ appeal echoed Pope Leo’s recent Angelus address, in which he urged the international community to uphold humanitarian law, protect civilians, and reject collective punishment, indiscriminate force, and forced displacement. “It is time to end this nonsense, end the war, and put the common good of people as the top priority,” Cardinal Pizzaballa stated, emphasizing the need for the release of hostages, the return of the missing, and healing for families on all sides.
Patriarch Theophilos addressed world leaders directly, warning that “silence in the face of suffering is a betrayal of conscience.” He reaffirmed the Church’s solidarity with Gaza’s children and invoked a biblical call to action: “To all those who wield power, we echo the Lord’s command: ‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.’”
The joint statement marks a unified stand by the religious leaders, urging global action to alleviate the humanitarian crisis and foster a lasting peace process in the region.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News
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