Recent media reports on the war in Gaza has highlighted the increasingly dire situation. On August 22 the United Nations declared a famine in Gaza. Pope Leo also called on all Catholics to pray and fast for an end to war on that day. The ongoing violent conflict in the Holy Land is impacting the most vulnerable people - children and the elderly. Thus far reports have stated that 273 people have died of starvation; 112 of them children.
Development and Peace - Caritas Canada (DPCC) strongly condemns the July 17 attack on the iconic Holy Family Catholic Church, Gaza, killing 3 civilians and wounding 10 others, including Fr. Gabriel Romanelli, the parish priest whom the late pope Francis contacted daily to give support. This sole Catholic church in Gaza has been sheltering hundreds of civilians since the beginning of the war on Gaza. To date, over 58,000 Palestinians have been killed and 139,000 injured. According to the Holy See press office, Pope Leo XIV has repeated his appeal for a renewed push for negotiations, a ceasefire and an end to the war.
In celebrating the resurrection of Christ during this year of Jubilee and reflecting on the legacy of our beloved Pope Francis, let us call to mind our responsibility to care for all of Creation. This includes our brothers and sisters in the Global South experiencing devastating debt, the Earth, and all people living at the margins. Easter Sunday and the global Earth Week began at the same time this year. In May we will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the papal encyclical Laudato Si’ and reflect on our commitments to climate justice and care for our Earth that are needed now more than ever.