2023-10-11 09:39:05
Vatican City: Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin expressed regret and concern over the re-emergence of conflict in the Holy Land and called on the global community to step forward to find a peaceful solution to the real problems. Asking for everyone’s prayers for an end to the wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, Cardinal Pietro noted that it is unimaginable what the end of the outbreak of war will be and the whole world has become a madhouse. Instead of relying only on force, violence and conflict, real problems should be solved in different ways and he praised the services provided by Europe in such efforts and promised the Vatican’s support for international efforts to prevent similar situations from recurring.
The International Justice Committee of the American Bishops’ Conference has expressed its concern over the war that has erupted following Hamas’s unexpected incursion into Israel and violence. Bishop David Malloy, chair of the USCCB’s Justice and Peace Affairs Committee, said the increasing damage and hostile attitudes threaten the very existence of the Holy Land. ‘Please stop attacks and weapons. Let us understand that terrorism and war do not lead to any decision, but only to the death and suffering of many innocent people,” recalling the words of Pope Francis, adding that they too join the Pope in condemning the widespread violence in the Holy Land. He asked all those who love the Holy Land to work towards ending the violence and freeing the hostages.
UNICEF stated that the situation of children in Israel and Palestine is very pathetic and children’s rights are widely violated in the conflict. UNICEF stated that many children were killed, mutilated and abducted in the first hours of the war, and that such rights violations are strongly condemned by UNICEF. The statement reminded everyone to refrain from further encroachment on the basic rights of citizens and that children are the first to suffer in this war, as in all wars. UNICEF called for the immediate and safe release of children held hostage to reunite them with their families or relatives.
Violence is escalating in the region. The army said it had recovered the bodies of 1,500 Hamas militants near the Gaza Strip and from Israel, and had fully seized control of the border. The bodies of 40 Israeli children beheaded by Hamas terrorists have also been found. At the same time, it is observed that there will be more infiltration attempts. The Israeli army closed the border, which was destroyed by Hamas, and evacuated everyone from the border. Israel has deployed 3,00,000 soldiers to fight against Hamas. This is the largest military buildup since the 1973 Yom Kippur War. Israel deployed 4,00,000 soldiers that day.
In the wake of ongoing conflicts in various parts of the world, including the Holy Land, the Diocese of Rome is preparing to pray the rosary on the 15th in the courtyard of the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in the Vatican, seeking the intercession of the Holy Mother. Cardinal Angelo de Donatis, vicar of the diocese, will officiate. During the prayer time, the miraculous image of the Holy Mother, ‘Salus Popoli Romani’, which is enshrined in the basilica, will be moved to the courtyard of the church. Tradition says that this is a painting by Saint Luke. Historically, it is the most important Marian icon in Rome. In 593, Pope Gregory I went around Rome carrying this figure to end the plague that was raging at the time. In 1571, Pope Pius V encouraged devotion to this particular icon during the Battle of Lepanto. Pope Francis prays in front of this icon in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore before and after each of his apostolic journeys.
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