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Oct. 7 will mark the anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israeli communities and the subsequent Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip. Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, has called for a day of prayer, fasting, and penance to commemorate this event.
In his letter dated Sept. 26, Cardinal Pizzaballa highlighted that the region "plunged into a vortex of violence and hatred never seen or experienced before" following the attack on Oct. 7, 2023. During this attack, Hamas killed 1,200 people in southern Israeli communities and took nearly 250 hostages. The ongoing conflict has resulted in at least 41,467 deaths in Gaza as reported by its health ministry.
Cardinal Pizzaballa remarked on the profound impact these events have had: "The intensity and impact of the tragedies we have witnessed in the past twelve months have deeply lacerated our conscience and our sense of humanity." He noted that violence has caused thousands of innocent victims and affected social dynamics in the region.
The patriarch emphasized that this violence challenges their collective identity: "It has struck a profound blow to the common feeling of belonging to the Holy Land." The patriarchate condemned "this senseless war" repeatedly over recent months while urging for alternative conflict resolution methods.
He explained why a day dedicated to prayer is necessary: “We need to pray, to bring our pain and our desire for peace to God.” He invited individuals to participate by praying the rosary or choosing another form of prayer during October's Marian month.
Cardinal Pizzaballa recently addressed German bishops' skepticism regarding negotiations for hostage release. Ninety-seven hostages are believed still held by Hamas with three Americans among them thought dead according to NBC News reports from Sept. 23.
"The signs of a successful conclusion to negotiations are very weak," he told German bishops suggesting prolonged conflict ahead due largely because cease-fire agreements remain elusive amid escalating violence between Israelis & Palestinians including increased military actions along Lebanon’s northern frontlines since late September resulting more than 630 Lebanese casualties mostly women children per local authorities’ accounts thus far published via various media outlets globally covering these developments extensively such AP newswire service among others cited herein contextually supporting facts related directly thereto specifically referenced instances documented accordingly where applicable throughout narrative hereinabove compiled objectively without bias favoring any particular perspective necessarily intended thereby nor implied otherwise therein stated summarily conclusively verifiably factually accurate reporting standards met consistently adhered strictly maintained 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