Jerusalem:

Jerusalem’s Latin patriarch Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa presided over one-hour Eucharistic adoration on Tuesday, October 17 to pray for peace in the Holy Land in the backdrop of Israel- Gaza war. Heeding the call of the cardinal, who called for a day of prayer and fasting on October 17, dioceses and parishes around the world organized special prayers.

“The pain and dismay at what is happening is great. Once again we find ourselves in the midst of a political and military crisis. We have suddenly been catapulted into a sea of unprecedented violence, the cardinal said in a statement that was released on October 11.

“The hatred, which we have unfortunately already been experiencing for too long, will increase even more, and the ensuing spiral of violence will create more destruction. Everything seems to speak of death, Cardinal Pizzaballa lamented.

He stressed the importance of prayer and turning our hearts to God to face “these hard times.” According to the website of the Latin Patriarchate, Rosary and prayers were recited at the Pro-Cathedral on Tuesday.

Cardinal Pizzaballa made headlines this week after he expressed his willingness to offer himself in exchange for Israeli children who had been taken hostage by Hamas and were held in Gaza, during a video conference with journalists in Italy on Monday.