A Catholic call to action for peace and justice in Gaza

As we enter the Advent season—a time for Catholics to reflect on the hope and promise of Christ’s birth—I feel compelled to address a matter of urgent moral importance: the ongoing genocide in Gaza. Pope Francis recently urged the international community to investigate whether Israeli military actions in Gaza constitute genocide against the Palestinian people. This call is a stark reminder that silence is no longer an option. The Church, guided by Christ’s example of compassion, justice, and love, must now act decisively in the face of injustice.

In recent months, the Presbyterian Church (USA) took a courageous stand against Christian Zionism, rejecting its distortion of biblical teachings and divesting from Israeli bonds that fund the oppression of Palestinians. By distinguishing “Biblical Israel” from the current Israeli government, they condemned the misuse of scripture to justify occupation. In contrast, the Catholic Church, despite its moral authority and global influence, has largely remained silent. With over 1.4 billion members worldwide, the Church has a sacred responsibility to speak out for those whose voices are silenced by violence and power.

Pope Francis has repeatedly emphasised peace, justice, and reconciliation, particularly in the Holy Land. In his 2020 encyclical Fratelli Tutti, the Pope wrote, “Every human being has the right to live with dignity and to develop integrally; this fundamental right cannot be denied by any country.” The ongoing genocide in Gaza violates this sacred right, and it is time for the Church to take a stronger, more decisive stance in defense of human dignity.

Advent is a time to embody the love and hope Christ offers to the world, yet the Church’s response to the genocide in Gaza has been inadequate. As Palestinian Catholics and Christians face unimaginable suffering, the Church has remained largely silent. It is time to turn our prayers into action. Christians cannot remain indifferent to suffering; we must stand with the oppressed, as Pope Francis has called us to do. The Catholic Church must protect the Christian presence in Gaza and the broader Holy Land—not only by supporting humanitarian efforts but also by advocating for long-term peace, dignity, and justice for all people.

The Church must unequivocally reject Christian Zionism, a dangerous political ideology that distorts the Gospel and uses scripture to justify the oppression of Palestinians. While the Church has never formally endorsed Zionism, certain voices within it continue to support this ideology. The teachings of Jesus—love, mercy, and justice—stand in direct opposition to policies that enable occupation and violence against the Palestinian people. The Church must reject Christian Zionism as a heresy and stand firm in its commitment to peace and social justice.

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, has exemplified what it means to be a Christian peacemaker. His courageous visit to Gaza amid the ongoing genocide and his support for Palestinian Christians in their time of suffering have been an inspiration. Yet, despite these efforts, the broader Catholic response has been lacking. Church properties have been targeted, and Christian institutions destroyed, but the Vatican and the global Church must do more to challenge these injustices. It is not enough to pray for peace—we must act to bring it into reality.

Recent Israeli actions, including taxing church properties—described by church leaders as a “coordinated attack”—threaten the stability and presence of Christian institutions in the Holy Land. This appears to be another form of ethnic cleansing, aimed at diminishing the Palestinian Christian population. The silence of the global Christian community, particularly the Catholic Church, is deeply troubling. We are called to love one another, empower the Christian presence in Jesus’ Land, and stand against injustice. In solidarity, the Church must follow the Presbyterian Church’s lead and demand a future where justice and peace prevail for all people.

In this season of hope, we are reminded of Christ’s humble birth, bringing a message of peace and love to all. As Catholics, we must follow Christ’s example by standing with the suffering, especially the Palestinian people. This means divesting from companies that profit from injustice and actively supporting efforts to rebuild communities destroyed by violence. For every Christian home, school, hospital, or church lost in Gaza, the Church must strive to rebuild ten. Strengthening Christian institutions in the Holy Land—such as schools, hospitals, and pilgrimage sites—can help support Palestinian Christians and contribute to a peaceful, just resolution to the conflict. The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem must be empowered to continue its vital work in the region.

As we celebrate Advent, we are reminded that Christ came into the world not to bring power or violence, but to bring peace and justice for all. It is time for Catholics worldwide to demand action from our Church leaders. The Church must divest from companies that fund oppression, reject Christian Zionism, and advocate for Palestinian rights. Drawing from its tradition of social justice, its commitment to a peaceful resolution of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, and its recognition of Palestine as a state, the Church must take a firm stand against this distortion of Christ’s message.

We are called to live out the Advent message of hope, peace, and love by standing with the oppressed. As Pope Francis has urged, it is time to investigate the atrocities in Gaza, call for accountability, and ensure that justice prevails. The Church must act now, more than ever, to build a future where dignity and security are guaranteed for all.

“God created the human being capable of life rather than death, love rather than killing.”
— Patriarch Michel Sabbah, Former Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem

Jack Nassar is a Palestinian Christian based in Ramallah. He holds a master of arts degree in political communications from Goldsmiths, University of London, and possesses expertise across sectors, driving positive change.

(A Palestinian woman mourns at the al-Maamadani hospital, following an Israeli strike at the Et-Tabiin school where displaced Palestinians took shelter in Gaza City on August 10, 2024. More than 90 people were reported killed, and dozens of others were injured | Photo by ABOOD ABUSALAMA/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images)

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