Jubilant Gaza welcomes Patriarch Pizzaballa and celebrates rebirth

June 22-26, the Latin primate visits the Strip. Masses, baptisms, meetings with Christian and Muslim families, visits to hospitals and refugee camps scheduled. Fr. Romanelli: "Today there are greater prospects for recovery," parish promotes many more activities than in the past. But a real turnaround will require an entity that is "independent" and guarantees "freedom of movement." 

Gaza City (AsiaNews) - In an atmosphere of "festivity and serenity," Gaza's Christians welcomed Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa, June 22-26 to the Strip for an intense and participatory pastoral visit marked by numerous scheduled events.

Last year, Fr. Gabriel Romanelli, pastor of the Holy Family, an Argentine priest of the Incarnate Word, tells AsiaNews, the territory "was reeling from the terrible war iin May," while this year the situation is far better.

"At Easter," he explains, "the Israeli authorities granted many more exit permits, and for longer, allowing family visits to Jerusalem or other parts of the West Bank. Today there are greater expectations for recovery than in the past," as is already evident "from the many activities promoted by the parish." 

"By now it has become a habit," the priest recounts, "for the patriarch to visit on a couple of occasions a year, but this time for a duration of five days, a very long time, and it is a blessing for all of us. Intense was the program of the Latin primate, who arrived on June 22 and was welcomed by Muslim and Christian professors, along with the parish faithful.

He visited the two houses of the Sisters of Charity, then in the afternoon the meeting with some families who welcomed him into their homes. Yesterday the trip south of the Strip to the border with Egypt, where he observed Caritas projects - including mobile clinics for poor families - and refugee camps. In the afternoon, a common time with about 60 members of St. Joseph's Scout Group. 

Today Patriarch Pizzaballa celebrates the Sacred Heart Mass, then the community gathers for an "Open Day" of festivities and activities sponsored by the parish. Tomorrow there is a blessing of some houses and a visit to two hospitals, followed by a meeting with Christian and Muslim families. Finally, on Sunday, June 26, the solemn Mass during which the baptism of a little girl from Holy Family Parish will be celebrated. 

An atmosphere of festivity, of meeting, of a desire to celebrate in order to overcome difficult years of war, violence, attacks across the border and responses - sometimes very harsh - by the Israeli army. The last escalation in May last year, when little more than 10 days of conflict resulted in the deaths of 13 Israeli civilians hit by Hamas and Islamic Jihad rockets, including two children, 114 wounded.

The harsh toll for the Strip was 256 civilian and militia deaths, including 66 minors. In addition to the trail of bloodshed, the war has left rubble and devastation added to an already precarious situation in what many are calling an open-air prison. The UN Office of Humanitarian Affairs speaks of 258 buildings destroyed, 53 schools, 11 clinics and six hospitals damaged.

"Today," Fr. Romanelli says, "reconstruction is proceeding, water purification plants are being built, we have power for eight hours a day compared to two in the past, roads are being repaired using a kind of bricks, because we have no tar here. You also see new buildings, then Israel has issued 10 thousand work permits for Gaza citizens who can go to Israel or Palestine for trade or business, so you also see more money going around and daily life is less hard. The inconveniences remain, but the situation is better." 

Until East Jerusalem and the West Bank are given the chance to be independent, with open doors to the world and trade, free travel and unrestricted movement, a radical turnaround will be impossible. "This," the priest notes, "remains the priority for a more just and stable society in Gaza as well.

After all, "the consequences of the blockade and wars" are still evident, which, compared to the past where they "emerged in the youth and children" today also affect "adult society, which suffers hardship."

These critical elements "unite Christians and Muslims" and to which the Church seeks to respond by "setting up environments in parishes and schools that foster community life, help for the poor and the disadvantaged." "We want to create for all Christians, Catholics and Orthodox," he concludes, "an oasis where we can live spirituality in a serious and strong way, where we can make a journey of formation, play and have fun. Today the patriarch will inaugurate a multipurpose basketball and soccer court, which will be immediately used for a tournament among the youth of the parish."