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Prayers for peace continue as the fragile ceasefire in Gaza continues to hold. Addressing leaders of the world’s religions earlier this week Pope Leo decried: "the abuses of power, displays of force, and indifference to the rule of law" in evidence across the world. "Conflicts are present in all parts of life" he said, "but war is no help in dealing with them or finding solutions. Peace is a constant journey of reconciliation.”

Catholic Aid Agency CAFOD recently welcomed partners from Caritas Jerusalem to London. Reflecting on the importance of peace, Elizabeth Funnell, CAFOD's Middle East Country Representative said:

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"The ceasefire [in Gaza] is a good first step but it's not enough [on its own] to bring a just and sustainable peace. Any plans must go far beyond humanitarian aid and seek to deal with the root causes of poverty and lack of rights for Palestinians - whether in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, or in Gaza."

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As part of the visit, a Palestinian priest who lives in the West Bank, near Jenin, described the impact of the Israeli occupation on daily life, highlighting that he and other Palestinians are regularly stopped and interrogated, often at gunpoint:

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"They are very firm" he said, "they stopped me once, [for] seven hours. They asked me to take off all my clothes in the street. I showed them my priesthood card and I showed them that I have VIP [permit] from Israel. It doesn't matter." The priest, who has been in ministry for more than two decades, still has hope: "We have to… teach the people how to live together… in peace, not in hatred. We have to change the language, to change the hearts. This is the hope."

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‍Source: CAFOD (ICN), Vatican News. Image: CBCEW‍