Milan, July 18 (LaPresse) – Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, will remain in Gaza until Sunday "to complete pastoral visits to all families, meet with Caritas teams, and ensure that the process for the delivery and distribution of humanitarian aid is properly defined and initiated." This was announced in a statement from the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
Pizzaballa, together with the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, arrived this morning at the Church of the Holy Family in Gaza, which was hit by an Israeli airstrike on Thursday, July 17. The Patriarchs, accompanied by members of the ecclesiastical delegation, conducted a full pastoral visit to the people of Gaza today.
They were received at the border by parish priests from the Orthodox and Latin communities, who accompanied them throughout the day. The visit began at the Church of the Holy Family complex, where the Patriarchs met with families sheltering there, offered condolences, pastoral encouragement, and personally witnessed the damage caused by the recent attack.
The delegation then visited the Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Porphyrius, where they were welcomed by His Excellency Bishop Alexios. The Patriarchs met with displaced persons sheltering in the compound and offered words of comfort and solidarity. Later, the delegation visited the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital (Baptist), where the Patriarchs received a full briefing on the dire humanitarian situation and urgent medical needs affecting the population.
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