In a statement on Saturday, meanwhile, Archbishop Timothy Broglio, head of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, and president of the U.S Conference of Catholic Bishops, called for “an immediate cessation of all hostilities, the release of hostages, and for earnest negotiations towards a peaceful resolution of this conflict.”
“At this holy time of Advent in anticipation of the birth of the Prince of Peace, it is with great sadness and horror that we continue to witness the death and destruction of innocent people in the land of Our Lord’s birth,” Broglio said.
Broglio said the U.S. bishops joined in the pope’s renewed call for peace in the Holy Land, which the Holy Father issued at his Sunday Angelus, urging the faithful to “pray to the Lord for peace.”
“[W]e resolutely join our voices with the Holy Father, Pope Francis, reminding all parties in this conflict that war is never the answer but always a defeat,” Broglio said. “We plead, ‘peace, please peace!’”
The Latin Patriarchate over the weekend also said that rocket fire “targeted” the Convent of the Sisters of Mother Teresa, a Missionaries of Charity house on the grounds of Holy Family Parish.
The patriarchate said that the home, which had been sheltering 54 disabled persons, was rendered “uninhabitable,” leaving the people without the medical equipment necessary for their care.