Fr. Patton: May Pope’s appeals for Holy Land touch hearts of world leaders

By Andrea De Angelis and Roberto Cetera

Father Francesco Patton, the Custos of the Holy Land, has expressed his appreciation for Pope Francis’ most recent appeal for peace, pronounced at the Angelus prayer on Sunday.

“In God’s name, I beg you to stop: cease fire!” appealed the Pope. “I hope that avenues will be pursued so that an escalation of the conflict might be absolutely avoided”.

Sensitivity of children to suffering

Fr. Patton, who listened live to the broadcast of the Angelus, told Vatican News that he hopes the Pope’s appeal will "touch the consciences" of world leaders.

“The Pope's words first made me think about yesterday's event here in Jerusalem," he said, “where children were praying for peace.”

Israelis and Palestinians, Christians and Muslims joined together on Saturday morning at the Terra Sancta School in Jerusalem to pray for peace.

"I was struck by the prayer of a 5-year-old girl, who was praying, concerned, for her father. This fear will mark not only her childhood but probably her entire life,’ said Fr. Patton.

He added that the empathy shown by children "is probably greater than that of adults. Children have managed to recognize that suffering is experienced by everyone."

The atmosphere in Jerusalem, he noted, "remains surreal. There is palpable fear, and there are feelings of hatred and anger mixed with helplessness and pain,” he said, “which makes the need for our prayers and the need for peaceful solutions stand out even more, allowing for the protection of civilian populations, especially children.”

Cloudy future

Fr. Patton also reflected on the enormous tragedy of those who have lost their lives, noting that "at the beginning," referring to 7 October, "there was a horrible slaughter of Israeli civilians living around the Gaza Strip, with thousands of victims and 250 kidnapped.”

Now, in Gaza, he added, “we are close to 10,000 deaths, of which nearly half are children.”

“This is a tragedy that should touch the consciences of everyone, even those in power in this world, men and women who can also have a strong influence on immediate and future decisions,” he said.

The elderly in the Holy Land were also on his mind, as they endure the drama of the Israel-Hamas war that began almost a month ago.

“Their concern is for their children and grandchildren. They don't think about their future but that of their loved ones," said Fr. Patton. "I've seen this not only in Gaza but also here in Israel. Several older people no longer see a great future for their children and grandchildren and invite them to leave the country to try to build a life elsewhere.”

Amid the gathering tragedy, this feeling of helplessness adds a further element of seriousness, "even for the Christian community because it means seeing the Christian presence in the Middle East diminish."

News from Catholic parish in Gaza

Around 700 people are still sheltering in the Holy Family Catholic Parish in Gaza.

Fr. Patton said the latest information he had received was of “loud explosions that hit nearby” the Church compound.

One of the blasts,” added the Custos of the Holy Land, “even hit in the premises of the school run by the nuns."

Fr. Patton concluded the interview by recalling a video made by the children in the Gaza parish in which they invited children meeting with the Pope on Monday to pray for peace.

He said the children’s video shows “the side of Christian hope.”