Something noteworthy that some might not see.
From ANSA
Pizzaballa, mi offrirei in cambio dei bimbi rapiti da Hamas:
Pizzaballa, I would offer myself in exchange for the children kidnapped by Hamas:
“Absolutely yes”.
Thus the Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, responded on the possibility of a “probably hypothetical” proposal of an exchange of prisoners between him and children held hostage by Hamas in Gaza.
Thus Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, in an online meeting with a group of journalists responded to a question about whether he is ready to offer himself for an exchange to free the children hostages in the hands of Hamas. Regarding the Holy See’s offer of mediation, he further said, “we have given our availability at least to try to bring back the hostages, at least some of them, this is what we are trying to do. It is very difficult because for mediation you need to have interlocutors And right now we can’t talk to Hamas.”
Regarding fears about the consequences of Israel’s possible land invasion in the Gaza Strip, Card. Pizzaballa replied: “My fears are essentially two: the first is, following the ground operation, I don’t know what it’s called, the much more serious humanitarian crisis that will be created. This is the first fear, because undoubtedly there will be many victims.” “And the other fear – he added – is that this conflict will become a regional conflict, which includes not only Gaza or possibly the West Bank, but also Lebanon, then the Islamic world could ignite, all the Arab countries: I don’t know , it is very difficult to predict developments, but the fears of regional expansion are real, and I’m not the only one who says so.”
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Reminds me of a couple of saints who did the same thing.
I need to ask, though. Is his name pronounced like it looks in English? I don’t want to be inadvertently insulting him if I discuss this.
I read the headline and thought this was a Babylon Bee satire. Then I started to read the article and realized that Pizzaballa is his real name. I’m still laughing.
The Church loses its prophetic witness when it fails to speak concretely into world issues. It is beautiful that the Cardinal offers himself for the Israeli children, but would he not offer a much greater sacrifice (his career in the Church, his perception in the world, potentially his life) if he spoke with clarity about militant Islam’s scourge on the world?
+++Pizzaballa’s most excellent cardinals-for-hostages idea should be expanded…. to include all post-2013 cardinalate appointees. Cardinals Cupich and Tobin and McElroy, not to mention Tucho and Hollerich and Grech, should all be relocated to downtown Gaza City immediately.
So beautiful to see that there is a true shepherd willing to lay down his life for the sheep.
But then again, we really need to keep those good men around…
Could we maybe offer them Pope Francis instead? He loves the religion of peace, right?
A Hero and maybe a Martyr. This Cardinal humbles us all.
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A clanker, nice to see. A Father at heart. Taking the red biretta seriously. Thanks for sharing.
The nice thing about it (which should also answer partially answer the dear Tony Pistilli’s question, together with the fact that the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem is, first and foremost, the shepherd of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem: the bulk of his flock are Palestinian Christians, and those are very much Palestinians)…
is the way he actually gave that offer.
He was asked by some journalist, and he was like: “Why yes. If that could help, of course I’d exchange myself for them. Who on Earth would’ve thunk otherwise?”
His Eminence’s offer is truly selfless and courageous, but will sadly be ignored by Hamas. They want Jews to torture and execute, and I doubt they will be able to get away with that with a Prince of the Church as a prisoner instead.
My friend, a Palestinian Christian, gave me an earful about this the other day. The upshot was, ‘Don’t believe the media.’ I know many things in recent years where the propaganda has been thick. Are they truthful now about who the bad/good guys are? From what my friend tells me, it sounds like there’s plenty of fault to go around. I will keep the Cardinal in my prayers.