Present to serve

The testimony of Bishop Jamal Daibes, a Palestinian voice between Africa and the Middle East

The Catholic bishop of Djibouti, interviewed by Lorenzo Noto, geopolitical analyst and Limes contributor, was the protagonist of an interesting meeting at the Arsenale della Pace as part of the Festival of Hospitality.
Bishop Jamal, Palestinian by birth, was the vicar bishop for Jordan of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem before becoming bishop of the small African state and of the Christian communities in Somalia in 2024.
With great serenity, Bishop Jamal immediately recalled the Church's commitment: "The Church in Djibouti is present to serve.
We do not seek privileges, but to serve the poorest. Numerically, we Christians are few, but that is not the problem. Jesus began with twelve people and changed the world... we want to bear witness to our small presence through our daily commitment.
Starting with education and instruction. In Djibouti, 30% of children are out of school. Education means giving hope and a future to children who otherwise would have no opportunities.
We have 10 Catholic schools that welcome children of at least 30 different nationalities and faiths: it's a joy to see them play and study together. This is how the Church should be, capable of bringing together people with different histories and origins. This happens when we recognize the dignity of others, when we see them through the eyes of Christ.
Today, there is too much fear of those who are different, a fear that is skillfully exploited by certain political forces, who structurally see others as enemies to be defended.
It happens in Israel, but also in Europe. We must return to the first page of the Bible.
Humanity was created in the image and likeness of God; we are all equal. In the Horn of Africa, there are wars, hunger, famines... We cannot solve everything, but we can give hope. Our task is to give hope. Reception is also important: in Djibouti, we have many Somali and Ethiopian minors fleeing their country unaccompanied. We simply try to welcome them, offering them a home and care."

From Djibouti, the reflection then expanded to the situation of the Church and the Israeli-Palestinian question, whose implications are also having significant repercussions. The Catholic Church is changing. I was in Rome for a long time, and I returned a few days ago. I saw the presence of many non-European priests and bishops, something completely new.
Things are truly changing; I myself am a Palestinian who ended up in Africa.
The Church is increasingly becoming Catholic and universal. Rome remains at the center as a sign of unity, but we must no longer think of the rest of the world as a periphery. There is a dignity of the churches in the world that cannot be diminished and that must be fully recognized in Rome. Regarding the situation in Gaza, Bishop Jamal calls on Western Churches to intervene more actively in the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Criticism of the Israeli government's decisions is often confused with anti-Semitism.
Anti-Semitism is an unacceptable form of racism that we teach in all our schools of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
At the same time, we must overcome the false prejudice that all Palestinians are terrorists. The Palestinian presence must be supported, just like the Israeli one.
Palestinians and Israelis must understand that there can be no other way than peace. But extremists seek hatred and war for power, sowing division. Churches, even with few Christians, support the dignity of all peoples and their coexistence.

The final words are again dedicated to the commitment of Christians in such a complex world: "The world is always small: the conflicts that rage around the world now have repercussions everywhere. Just think of phenomena like immigration or rising prices; these are all consequences that affect us closely. Perhaps Europeans struggle to fully perceive the gravity of these impacts, and this difficulty generates confusion and division. As Christians, we are called to read the signs of the times in the light of the Word of God. There is no simple and unequivocal answer, but we can identify paths and insights to understand God's will. What, then, is our task today? This is the moment when the ecclesial dimension—the community of believers—can prove decisive in grasping God's plan of love. The answer lies in the unity and understanding we find together in the Church.
Finally, a final, warm message of hope: "In August I was in Jerusalem at the Holy Sepulchre, and believe me, the tomb continues to remain empty! We cannot lose hope even amid the suffering of the world. Through the cross we learn that life is stronger than death and suffering!"

Renato Bonomo
Focus
NP November 2025