“You have become the light of our Church in the entire world,” Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa told Gaza Christians Dec. 22 during a pre-Christmas visit aiming to bring the joy of the season to the suffering Christian community in the Gaza Strip.
After passing the Erez crossing at dawn, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem said to Christians sheltering in the premises of Holy Family Parish in the war-torn Gaza Strip that that it was his “great joy at being among you today and extend to you the greetings of everyone who conveys their love, prayers and solidarity with you.”
Visibly moved and in white vestments forecasting Christmas joy, Pizzaballa arrived at the Gaza City Catholic parish with suitcases full of gifts. During the Mass, he also imparted the sacrament of confirmation to a number of young people, Vatican News reported.
“At Christmas, we celebrate the light and ask: Where is this light? The light is here, in this church. The beginning of the light is Jesus Christ, who is the source of our life. If we are a light to the world, it is only because of Him. At Christmas, I pray that Jesus grants us this light,” he said.
The visit marked the second time when the cardinal was able to join the Gaza community and their parish pastor, Father Gabriel Romanelli. The last time he was able to cross to Gaza was in May.