Pope embraces bereaved Palestinian and Israeli fathers who found friendship amid war

By Deborah Castellano Lubov

As Pope Francis discussed the virtue of patience during his Wednesday General Audience, he once again denounced the ongoing wars and appealed for peace.

At the same time, he spoke about two men who have suffered immensely due to the war in the Holy Land.

Bassam Aramin, a Palestinian, and Rami Elhanan, an Israeli, both lost their daughters, ages 10 and 13, because of the war in the Holy Land.

They have found solace and friendship in having both experienced the greatest pain possible for a parent. Mr. Aramin saw his 10-year-old Abir die from a rubber bullet fired by an Israeli soldier in 2007 as she left school.

Mr. Elhanan lost his 13-year-old daughter, Smadar, in a Palestinian suicide attack in Jerusalem in 1997.

According to the Holy See Press Office, the two men's story of friendship was told in the novel Apeirogon by Colum McCann, a winner of the Terziani Prize who met with Pope Francis during an audience with artists on June 23, 2023.

The two men work together to promote peace in justice through the association "The Parents Circle."

'The same crucifixion' of losing their children

The Holy Father had just concluded his catechesis on virtue of patience, highlighting that "when we feel we are in the grip of adversity, as Job teaches us, it is good to open ourselves with hope to the newness of God, in the unwavering confidence that He does not let our expectations be disappointed."

As he discussed patience and knowing how to bear difficulties, the Pope said that there were two people in the Paul VI Hall who "two fathers," noting that one of them was Israeli and the other was Arab.

He explained that both of them lost their daughters in this war, "and they are both friends."

"They do not look at the enmity of war," he said. "They look to the friendship of two men who care about each other and have experienced the same crucifixion."

'Thank you for your witness'

"Let us think of the beautiful witness of these two people who have suffered the war in the Holy Land in the loss of their daughters," added the Pope.

Addressing both of them as "dear brothers," the Holy Father thanked them for their witness.

Prior to the audience, in the small study of the Vatican's Paul VI Hall, the Pope had a brief private audience with them both.

Pope Francis with Israeli and Arab fathers who lost daughters in the Holy Land War.

Peace for Ukraine and Holy Land

In his address to Italian-speaking pilgrims, Pope Francis renewed his appeal for peace in Ukraine and in the Holy Land.

"Brothers and sisters, let us pray for peace," he said. "May the Lord grant peace to martyred Ukraine, as it suffers heavy bombardment, and to Israel and Palestine. May there be peace in the Holy Land."

Pope Francis concluded by praying that the Lord might grant the gift of His peace to all this Easter.