African Cardinal Directs Parishes to “hold in prayer” Victims of Israel-Palestine Violence

The Local Ordinary of Cape Town Archdiocese who doubles as Spokesperson for the Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference (SACBC) continues, “While there are those who seek facile interpretations of the conflict, there is no single narrative that captures the full context of what is presently happening in the Holy Land.”

The Local Ordinary of Cape Town, who was among the three Africans named Cardinals on July 9, and created Cardinals during the September 30 Consistory recognized the significance of the context of the violence, saying, “The Holy Land is of special concern since it is the land so spiritually tied to our faith and is our mother Church.”

The October 7 surprise attacks began at the start of the observance of the Jewish holiday Simchat Torah. Israel reacted to the attacks by fighting back in southern Israel and launching airstrikes in Gaza. 

Israeli military official, Daniel Hagari, told reporters on October 8 morning that “hundreds of terrorists” had been killed during fighting in Gaza and southern Israel, the Associated Press reported.

On October 7, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel was “at war.”

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Media reports indicate that more than 1,200 people have been killed and over 2,800 people have been injured in Israel while at least 1,055 lives have been lost and 5,183 people are injured in Gaza.

In his October 13 letter, Cardinal Brislin says, “With Pope Francis, we call for the release of hostages. We also pray for those in Gaza who have been held under siege for so many years in what is effectively the world's largest open-air prison. Our prayers need to accompany all who find themselves hostage.” 

“We need to pray for the support of the many people in the Holy Land who work for a just peace,” he adds.

The 67-year-old South African Cardinal who started his Episcopal Ministry in January 2007 as Bishop of South Africa’s Kroonstad Diocese said that “there are many parts of the world where there is violence, war and civil strife and we should keep all of these in our prayers.”

He goes on to caution, “Peace will never be attained through the barrel of a gun and it is the peacemakers who keep the flame of hope alive in what seems like an increasingly dark situation.” 

“As people of faith, and especially those of the Abrahamic faiths so tied to that land, we need to turn humbly, yet urgently, to God the Creator of all, to soften the hearts of those committed to violence and to inspire them to ‘hammer their swords into ploughshares and their spears into billhooks (so that) nation will not lift sword against nation or ever again be trained to make war,” he says in reference to Isaiah 2:4.

The Cardinal implores, “May peace reign in the hearts of all.”

On October 8, the Holy Father called for an end to the violence, which he said he is following “with apprehension and sorrow”.

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