To bring hope to life

It is a very hard time, filled with heartbreaking news that spreads sadness, anguish, a sense of powerlessness in the face of violence that overwhelms lives and destroys everything, taking away every future. Closing in on oneself, bitter, defeated, oppressed by a malaise that leads to indifference… is a risk no less serious: darkness wants it, power serving itself feeds on it in order to wrap everything up, make it its own. Only hope is the key to this time. Every light that softens the surrounding darkness makes it live. The need for peace is in everyone’s heart. To be workers for peace today is to believe in peace even before seeing it. To live it concretely in daily choices.

History truly passes through each one of us as well; being present, believing in it, following the heart: every gesture, every attitude of truth and justice, matters, makes a difference.

We want to live the hope of a future of peace side by side with one another, despite everything that has been. And we wished to be close to people, to ease the despair of a terrible emergency, without giving up building a bit of future. The generosity of many friends has once again been astonishing, and continues to be so. Supporting collaborations with Church realities in the Holy Land, Syria, and Lebanon.

The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem has courageously carried out, without publicity, a broad and important action both in Gaza and in Palestine, throughout the long period of the conflict. A profound impact, in the service of Christian communities to preserve their presence and social bonds, as well as those of their “neighbors” with whom they have always lived together. Directed at food and health emergencies in Gaza, in the Territories and in East Jerusalem, the interventions have also included educational support at every level, offering perspectives and skills, and – in the face of the severe economic crisis – access to housing and income opportunities in a dignified way, not only subsidies. The Patriarchate intends to maintain the aid programs, aware that the consequences of the war will last for years.

The Syriac-Catholic Archdiocese of Homs in Syria and its bishop, Msgr. Jacques Mourad, after 14 years of devastating conflict that has reduced the vast majority of the country to poverty, are still experiencing the great difficulty of making a true peace emerge. The Christian community – because of war and emigration – has fallen from 3 million to the current 250,000 members. The Church is committed to helping them start life again, with dignity; without forgetting the poor, beyond every religious affiliation, offering a witness of respect and unity, despite differences. What was sent supported, for an initial quarter, about 500 interventions – food emergency, health, housing, and also educational support – each with a name and a face.

The situation in southern Lebanon is difficult, where bombings have destroyed villages, uprooted crops and communities. Together with the Convent of Saint Anthony of Padua in Tyre, work is underway to restore living conditions for Christian families in the countryside, who have lost their harvests and must restore fields and olive groves. In particular, the people of the village of Deir Mimas, on the northern bank of the Litani River: refugees for months, efforts are being made to restore the olive groves for which they were famous, to resume living from their own land.


Mauro Palombo
NP November 2025