Ceasefire in Gaza Sparks Cautious Optimism, Says Cardinal Pizzaballa

Jerusalem, January 17, 2025: The announcement of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has brought a cautious sense of optimism to the region, according to the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa. In an interview with Vatican Media’s Roberto Paglialonga, Cardinal Pizzaballa described the ceasefire as “the necessary turning point we needed” after 15 months of devastating conflict that resulted in over 46,000 deaths and nearly 2 million displaced Palestinians. While recognizing the road ahead will be long and fraught with challenges, the Cardinal expressed relief at the end of hostilities, calling it a moment of “joy” for all those exhausted by the war’s toll.

Cardinal Pizzaballa emphasized that while the ceasefire is a welcome development, it represents only the beginning of a lengthy peace process. “This is only the first step,” he said, acknowledging that achieving lasting peace would take much longer as it requires the resolution of deeper conflicts through negotiation. He further underscored that “the end of the war is not the end of the conflict.”

Cardinal Pizzaballa underscored the importance of ensuring that the ceasefire holds. “We must do everything possible to ensure that it does,” he insisted. "We must not give them space or traction," he added, referring to those who might undermine the ceasefire efforts.

When asked why it took so long to reach a ceasefire agreement, the Cardinal explained that the reasons were multifaceted. “The agreement was more or less the same discussion that was had months ago,” he said. He stressed that the important focus now is to address Gaza’s severe humanitarian crisis. “Whatever the reasons may be, the only thing that matters now is that we turn the page and start addressing the humanitarian needs in Gaza.”

With the ceasefire in place, Cardinal Pizzaballa called for urgent action to address the immediate needs of Gaza’s population. "It will now be easier to introduce what is necessary for the population,” he explained, pointing to food supplies, schools, and healthcare as immediate priorities. He also emphasized the importance of extending support to Gaza’s small Christian community. “Like everyone else, they too are in desperate need of support,” he stated.

Despite the challenges ahead, the Cardinal expressed confidence in the international community’s ability to mobilize and coordinate aid. “We can create the necessary coordination to begin resolving the humanitarian crisis,” he said, though he acknowledged that it would take a “very long time.”

Finally, Cardinal Pizzaballa reflected on the mood of Gaza’s Christian community, who, despite still processing the news, are “very happy” at the announcement of the ceasefire. He described the sense of liberation among them, saying, “The idea of a ceasefire, of halting hostilities, and turning the page in Gaza brings a sense of liberation.”

While the ceasefire is an important step toward peace, the Patriarch cautioned that the journey is far from over. “The hope is that this is the beginning of a process - albeit lengthy - that will, hopefully, bring lasting peace,” he concluded.

Courtesy: Vatican News