With the war in Gaza morphing into a full--blown regional conflict as the first anniversary of hostilities approaches, the Church's leading voice in the Holy Land has called on believers to observe an Oct. 7 day of prayer and fasting for peace, the Crux website reports today (Oct. 4, 2024).
In a recent statement, Cardinal Pierbarttista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, noted that "for the past year the Holy Land , and not only, has been plunged into a vortex of violence and hatred never seen or experienced before."
"The intensity and impact of the tragedies we have witnessed in the past 12 months have deeply lacerated our conscience and our sense of humanity, " he said.
In light of this, as the first anniversary approaches of the Oct. 7,
2023 Hamas attack on Israel, which prompted a retaliatory offensive that has since spun into an escalating regional conflict, Pizzaballa invited faithful to observe Oct. 7 "a day of prayer, fasting, and penance."
Last year on Oct. 7, Hamas militants attacked various locations throughout Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking over 250 hostages.
Israel in response launched a retaliatory ground and air offensive in Gaza with the aim of eradicating Hamas that has left more than 41,000 people in Gaza dead.
Pope Francis echoed Pizzaballa's call for a day of prayer and fasting on Oct. 7, asking everyone "to take part in a day of prayer and fasting for peace in the world" on Oct. 7.
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