Following the historic ceasefire agreement in Gaza, Fr Gabriel Romanelli (Parish Priest of Gaza) and Fr Youssef Assad (Vicar Priest) were interviewed by the Director of the Latin Patriarchate's Media Office, Fr Ibrahim Nino.

The interview reflected on the collective feeling or relief even after enduring so much loss, the priorities going forward for themselves and those who rely on them for support as well as the gratitude they feel for all those who have supported them during this most arduous period. In particular they expressed gratitude to Cardinal Pizzaballa who only a month ago led the efforts to get vital humanitarian supplies and aid to those sheltering in Gaza and to Pope Francis:

"How joyful we are to unite in thanking His Holiness Pope Francis for his continuous support and efforts on our behalf. From the bottom of our hearts, we thank him and ask the Lord to bless him and his spiritual and humanitarian work in Gaza and throughout the world." 

For the full interview, follow the link here.

Meanwhile Bishop of Chelmsford, Rt Rev Dr Gula Francis-Dehqani visited the Holy Land for the second time since the war began. Included in her visit, which ran from the 13th-17th January, were meetings with the Holy Land Trust in Bethlehem, UNRWA in Jerusalem and the Evangelical Bible College in Nazareth. Regarding the ceasefire, she made the following statement: 

“For the many individuals I met during my recent visit to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (13-17 January 2025), who feel utterly exhausted and traumatised by this 15-month war, the announcement of a ceasefire-hostage agreement will be very welcome indeed, even if it creates fresh anxieties about the future.

“This deal promises to save lives, reunite loved ones and ease the suffering of civilians in Gaza. Against a background of such deep despair, yesterday’s release of hostages and prisoners, offers a spark of hope that a more peaceful future is possible if people have the courage to reach for it, and to work for it.  

“I pray that all parties to the agreement will reject the fatalistic notion that this conflict is intractable and that instead they will work tirelessly to provide the necessary humanitarian support to all those in need and negotiate a durable plan which secures meaningful political progress towards a comprehensive, just and lasting peace.”

For the full story detailing her visit the Holy Land, please follow the link here.

Also visiting the Holy Land in January were the Holy Land Coordination, an annual meeting of international bishops organised by the Catholic Bishops' conference in England and Wales. Their visit ran from the 18th-23rd January, and on the last day they released the following, final communique: 

"We join with Patriarch Pizzaballa and the Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land in their hope that the ceasefire amounts to more than a pause in hostilities and marks the start of a genuine and lasting peace. We share their conviction that this can only be achieved “through a just solution that addresses the origin of this long-standing struggle; (that it will require) a long process, a willingness to acknowledge each other’s suffering and a focused education in trust that leads to overcoming fear of the other and the justification of violence as a political tool.” 

To read their final statement in full, please follow the link here.