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“We Cannot Change the Situation, but We Can Change Someone’s Life”: Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem
During the October 25 feast of Our Lady, Queen of Palestine, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa called on Christians to combat loneliness and stand with those who suffer. His appeal came amid the continuing hardship faced by families in Gaza and the killing of nine Christians in Jordan, a tragedy that also drew a public response from Pope Leo XIV.
THE CHURCH IN THE HOLY LAND
Ana Paula Morales (Poli)
10/29/20263 min read
Photo caption: Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, during the October 25, 2026, celebration of the feast of Our Lady, Queen of Palestine, at the Deir Rafat shrine. In his address, he urged Christians to stand alongside those who suffer and keep hope alive in the Holy Land.
DEIR RAFAT, Holy Land — “We cannot change the situation, but we can change someone’s life.” That was the message Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, delivered on October 25 during the feast of Our Lady, Queen of Palestine, urging Christians to confront loneliness and offer practical support to those suffering amid the violence in the Holy Land.
According to the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, Pizzaballa stressed that while Christians cannot always change the political circumstances surrounding them, even a simple visit, a compassionate conversation or an act of solidarity can make a profound difference.
Jordan: Nine Christians Killed in Church Attack
The celebration came two days after gunmen opened fire on mourners attending a funeral at St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Hammoud, Jordan, on October 23.
As Press Crux reported, the initial death toll of seven rose to nine on October 24 after two wounded victims died. Approximately 40 people were injured, and Jordan declared three days of national mourning.
On October 25, Pope Leo XIV condemned the violence during his Sunday Angelus remarks, offering prayers for the victims and their families.
That same day, Pizzaballa opened his homily in Deir Rafat by expressing solidarity with the Greek Orthodox community.
“Their pain is our pain,” he said, calling for justice and urging Christians and Muslims to preserve their bonds of fraternity.
Following Mass, the patriarch traveled to Jordan to personally console the grieving families, according to the Latin Patriarchate.
Gaza and the Hidden Wound of Loneliness
Pizzaballa also spoke about the suffering of families in Gaza, including those who have lost loved ones and those struggling to imagine a future free from fear.
He warned that violence damages more than buildings and livelihoods. It also isolates people, weakens relationships and makes it harder for communities to remain united.
Drawing on the Gospel account of Mary's visit to Elizabeth, the patriarch urged Christians to recognize God's presence through encounters with others.
He emphasized that Christian charity requires concrete action, but also something deeply personal: listening, visiting and allowing others to share their burdens.
Our Lady of Palestine: A Place of Prayer and Hope
The October 25 celebration took place at the Marian shrine of Deir Rafat, entrusted since 2009 to the Monastic Family of Bethlehem.
According to the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre, the nuns maintain a life of prayer and welcome pilgrims of different faiths. The shrine's inscriptions of the Hail Mary in 280 languages reflect the universal character of Marian devotion.
Despite travel restrictions and regional tensions, many faithful attended the Mass, which concluded with a Marian procession and prayers for peace.
For Pizzaballa, the message of the Visitation remains urgent: Christians are called to bring Christ's presence to those who feel forgotten.
Amid the grief in Gaza and Jordan, his appeal offered a simple reminder: hope begins when no one is left to suffer alone.
Photo caption: Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, during the October 25, 2026, feast of Our Lady, Queen of Palestine, at the Deir Rafat shrine. In his homily, he urged Christians to stand with those who suffer and keep hope alive in the Holy Land.
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