Father Ibrahim Faltas, ofm Vicar of the Custody of the Holy Land In this holy time, from Jerusalem, capital of the resurrection, queen of heaven, with the feast of the ascension. Not only as a monk and father, but also as a witness to the pain and suffering that torment the Holy Land. I am here with a message of peace in a world full of conflicts and wars. As the Gospel according to John says: ‘In the world you will have tribulation, but believe me, I have overcome the world’. We children of the Christian faith believe that every person is created in the image and likeness of God. And he has a right to life, dignity and peace. But if we look at what is happening in Gaza after more than 200 days of war, we see a different picture. A stain of blood and tears where more than 35,000 people have died, including the elderly, innocent women and children. In these critical moments, I call on the presidents and leaders of the world, on behalf of every father and mother in Gaza and the families of the Palestinian and Israeli prisoners, to assume their historical and humanitarian responsibilities. I urge you to take immediate action to end any new military operation in Rafah, where thousands of innocent people live who have no other sin than to seek safety in their homeland. ‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God’ (Mt 9:5). These words are not only teachings we read in the Holy Bible, but are a call to all of us to be peacemakers. It is a daily activity, our responsibility to build bridges of understanding and love between people. Today I invite you, brothers and sisters, to raise your voices with me: no more war, no more war. Let us work together to make peace a tangible reality, to give hope to all those who have lost hope. To be a ray of light in the darkness that surrounds us. ‘And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus’ (Philippians 4:7). The peace we speak of is not only a peace that reigns on earth, but it is a peace that fills hearts and frees minds from the chains of hatred and enmity. Let us pray together, not only for Gaza, but for all parts of the world that suffer the scourge of war and conflict. There are 60 ongoing wars in the world. Let us pray that the Lord will give us the strength to be true peacemakers and bring us the message of love and tolerance that our Lord Jesus Christ taught us. In these difficult times, let us always remember that God is with us and calls us to be His instruments to build a better world. Let us work together, hand in hand, to say with one voice: no more war and no more destruction. Let us give life a chance, let us give peace a chance, for only then will we find true healing for the whole world. Amen Read More