Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa was appointed by Pope Francis during a time of significant unrest in the Holy Land. Israeli society is deeply divided over judicial reforms under Prime Minister Netanyahu, while Palestinians face severe conditions in Gaza, described as an 'open prison.' Following the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, Pizzaballaâs role became even more critical as he leads in a conflict zone, focusing on the plight of Christians and calling for grace amidst suffering.
"The cardinalate's red color has taken on a profound significance marked by much sorrow, by many hardships," Pizzaballa told the Catholic News Agency shortly after the war broke out.
Pizzaballa, who had served as Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem since 2020, described Gaza as an 'open prison,' and conditions in the enclave 'shameful.'
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