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Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Cardinal Pizzaballa meets with the Order of Malta and the Venerable Order of St John

“Despite everything, we are able to continue.”
Members of the two Orders were honoured to meet with the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pizzaballa, hosted by the Venerable Order at their premises in Clerkenwell. The historic visit was the first by a Latin Patriarch to England since 1185.

His Beatitude said that the situation in Lebanon is de-escalating a little since the ceasefire and that in Gaza a more flexible approach is being considered. But he warned that de-escalation does not mean peace and at the moment, there is no political vision for the future, so no talks can take place. Between the groups, there is no trust. And there are the problems of language, of different ways of thinking.

On the ground, there are many complications as a result of the war: in Israel, soldiers are called up to the army from civilian life, can then go back to it, then get called up again, resulting in economic disruption. In Gaza, nothing is working, the population is 100% dependent on assistance.  However, even the aid that arrives, for example a recent load of 70 tons of aid, is not enough to feed 100,000 people, and the trucks bringing supplies are often attacked by the mafia stealing food and selling it on.  For the children this is now the second year with no schooling, and the schools are destroyed. Communities have dispersed, so teachers are displaced, may not be alive; there are still many bodies hidden in the ruins of the bombed buildings. There are thousands of elderly with no one left to care for them. There are thousands of children who are completely alone, who cannot be adopted because in Islam adoption is not permitted. There are thousands of disabled, of wounded.
Because there is no law, there is violence – people can do what they want, which is a serious issue especially in the northern West Bank. Palestinians who were working in Israel cannot enter there now, creating another economic problem. The United Nations cannot get entry visas; NGO activities are being cancelled, there are no banks.

The churches are working together to provide help – what is important is to be Christian. They are the only reference point. “We in the Patriarchate, the Archdiocese of Jerusalem, which was originally established in 1099, are one of the few institutions still present and working. Despite everything, we are able to continue.”

His Beatitude advised the meeting that volunteers are always welcome, that they need to describe what they can provide, when, and how.