Speaking on the final day of the Meeting for Friendship Among Peoples in Rimini, Italy, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, voiced deep concern over escalating instability in the Middle East, describing the West Bank as a “lawless land.” The Cardinal highlighted increasing settler aggression against the Palestinian population occurring without effective legal or security restraints. He urged Western nations to step up diplomatic efforts to break the downward cycle of hostility, emphasizing that diplomacy—despite its limitations—remains the only viable path to avoid further military escalation.
While acknowledging the devastating humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Cardinal Pizzaballa noted that political discussions surrounding the area show signs of moving toward a more structured dialogue. Reaffirming the Holy See’s support for a two-state solution, he called it the sole framework capable of guaranteeing both Israelis and Palestinians the right to live peacefully in their homeland. Addressing a potential future papal visit to the Holy Land, the Patriarch stressed that proper conditions must be prepared so the trip forms part of a lasting peace process rather than an isolated gesture.
Reflecting on the psychological toll of conflict during an exchange with students from Italy, Ukraine, and the United States, the Patriarch warned against the dehumanizing mindset that war instills. He observed that armed conflict robs young people of their formative years and brutalizes the human conscience by forcing individuals to view others as enemies rather than fellow human beings. True hope, Cardinal Pizzaballa concluded, does not rely solely on political agreements, but begins from within when individuals—Jews, Muslims, and Christians alike—refuse to dehumanize one another and actively choose understanding over conflict.