Jerusalem patriarch hails pope's commitment to Gaza

THE Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, yesterday hailed Pope Francis's support for Gazans and engagement with the small Catholic community in the war-battered Palestinian territory.

- AFP

The Catholic church's highest authority in the region, who is considered a potential successor to the late pontiff, Pizzaballa told journalists in Jerusalem that “Gaza represents, a little bit, all what was the heart of his pontificate”.

Pope Francis, who died on Monday aged 88, advocated peace and “closeness to the poor... and to the neglected one”, said the patriarch.

These positions became particularly evident in Francis's response to the Israel-Hamas war which broke out in October 2023, Pizzaballa said.

“He was very close to the community of Gaza, the parish of Gaza, he kept calling them many times - for a certain period, also every day, every evening at 7 pm,” said the patriarch.