In the Basilica of Gethsemane on Sunday, December 6, the Christian community of Jerusalem gathered for the celebration of Mass in reparation for the act of vandalism that had occurred two days earlier, when a 49-year-old nationalist Jew tried to set fire to the basilica. The celebration was presided over by H.B. Bishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the new Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, together with Brother Francesco Patton, Custos of the Holy Land, Bishop Giacinto Marcuzzo and Brother Dobromir Jasztal, Custodial Vicar. Also present were H.E. Mgr. Leopoldo Girelli, Apostolic Delegate for Jerusalem and about thirty priests. The celebration began with a penitential prayer in front of the entrance door. Then Mgr. Pizzaballa walked through and blessed the basilica, in particular the wooden benches still blackened. HB Mgr PIERBATTISTA PIZZABALLA, ofm Patriarch of Jerusalem of the Latins "Unfortunately this is nothing new. In the past, both in Gethsemane and in other places, there have already been similar episodes, some even more serious. This tells us on the one hand that there is still a long way to go in the area of mutual respect, and on the other that it is true that we Christians talk about forgiveness, but forgiveness is not an alternative to justice: these things must be stigmatized and become an opportunity to talk about them and learn what not to do." The smoke and flames had broken out on the afternoon of Friday, December 4: after the first intervention by the workers working in the sanctuary, firemen and police arrived on the scene, and the perpetrator of the act was immediately arrested. Br BENITO JOSÉ CHOQUE, ofm Guardian of the Basilica of Gethsemane "He entered the church with a bottle of water - or at least that's what the workers thought - but it was petrol. He lit the fire and spread it from this point all the way to the altar. He ruined all the benches on the right side of the Basilica and also the floor." Br FRANCESCO PATTON, ofm Custos of the Holy Land "Our feelings are clearly feelings of sorrow, of sadness, because it is always sad when you disrespect a place of prayer, regardless of the religion to which it belongs. At the same time, our feelings are Christian feelings: but we must distinguish between what is a forgiveness that is agreed on the religious and moral level and what is a request for justice, which serves precisely to protect people, places, and prevent such acts from happening again in the future." "However," added the Custos of the Holy Land, "many people love us, and many Israelis are also close to us right now. This proximity is clearly visible from the flowers sent by some groups of local Jews, placed on the stone of Agony during the celebration. This gesture goes against our shared values and traditions of peaceful coexistence and respect for all faiths. I came here to truly express my solidarity, and to say that this is not just an attack on a Christian holy place, this is an attack against Israeli democracy. We respect the holy places of everyone. Especially now that Hannuka and Christmas are approaching, while we are still within the Coronavirus pandemic that has made us understand that we must remain united, this message of love and peace is crucial, it is very important. Br BENITO JOSÉ CHOQUE, ofm Guardian of the Basilica of Gethsemane "The solidarity of many people from all over the world was not absent: Christians and non-Christians, Muslims, Orthodox...we really felt very consoled and accompanied by many people. That is why from this holy place we raise our prayer to the Lord and ask for the gift of peace." Read More