The Holy Land, a land sacred to Jews, Christians and Muslims, is the very place where the story of salvation has its origins, where God has decided to reveal both his divine glory and the inestimable value of human dignity.
Yet, by one of the paradoxes of human history, the Holy Land has always been the scene of atrocious wars, resulting in a river of blood that does not cease and cries out for justice in the sight of God and in the sight of all peoples. It is a land devastated by centuries of conflict, marked by mistrust and fear, by broken promises and shattered hopes.
In the face of yet another humanitarian disaster, I cannot but reiterate the heartfelt call for peace for Jerusalem and the entire Middle East. The cycle of violence and retribution has become so embedded in the human psyche that even invoking peace can be interpreted with suspicion — as leniency towards the enemy or as a lack of empathy for the perceived victims and their concerns.
Peace-making requires courage, much more so than warfare. Such courage remains as necessary as ever. War only gives the illusion of setting things right. It is a simplistic “answer” to more complex socio-political problems, but it is never a solution.
A future for Palestinians and Israelis
When the illusion of war has passed, only death, destruction and even greater problems remain. Weaving peace involves more time and more patience, but it is the only path to a better world. True peace does not ignore justice, and true justice does not espouse the logic of revenge, but it is inspired by forgiveness. Everywhere, and above all in the Holy Land, the only viable path to a just and lasting peace is a political solution that fully respects the rights and aspirations of both Israelis and Palestinians.
In this spirit, I would renew my firm support for a two-state solution, which envisions a state of Israel and a state of Palestine living side by side in peace, security and mutual recognition. Both peoples have the right to live in peace, as both have deep historical, cultural and religious roots in that land. Security can never be achieved through the domination, annihilation, humiliation or exclusion of the other.
A military approach or unilateral decisions may bring about apparent and momentary victories, but they do not bring peace. On the contrary, they deepen wounds, sow hatred and perpetuate a cycle of violence. True peace cannot be imposed by force, but can be built only through sincere dialogue, mutual respect and an honest commitment to the common good.
In the words of the Book of the Prophet Isaiah: The work of justice will be peace; the effect of justice, calm and security forever (Isaiah 32:17). Justice requires the recognition of the dignity of the other, especially the vulnerable, the displaced, and those who have no voice and no choice.
'Blessed are the peacemakers'
Adopting an appropriate political solution and diplomatic approach is indeed necessary, but that is not enough.
Supporting a two-state solution is not simply about tracing borders and signing agreements. It means recognising that independence must walk hand-in-hand with interdependence. Indeed, in our world, everything is interrelated, and we are all connected to each other as brothers and sisters of the one human family.
Israelis and Palestinians are bound together by geography, by history, and by a future that either they will build together or will remain forever at risk. Peace will never flourish in isolation from the rest of the world. One could say that there is peace on the moon, but that is peace of emptiness, not the peace of fullness that we are called to build on this earth.
We need shalom, the divine peace, the only peace that really has a human face. This is the only peace that allows people to see each other as neighbours, as partners, and even as brothers and sisters.
Strength through peace
Unfortunately, all too often in human history, those who propose peace are looked upon as weak, while those who arm themselves to the teeth are presented with the allure of being strong and in charge. This is also a great illusion.
The one who works for peace is strong. Only the peacemaker sees the world as a place that can be cultivated and improved upon. Only the peacemaker has the patience and foresight to build. In contrast, those who prepare for war in the end are weak because they do not believe in humanity, or even in themselves. Such an attitude can only destroy. As Jesus said, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God" (Matthew 5:9).
To both peoples and to the international community, I would say: God and future generations will judge us not by how many enemies we defeated, but by how many lives we saved. May the day soon come when swords are turned into ploughshares, when children wake not to sirens but to songs of peace, and when the Holy Land becomes truly holy.
Note: This op-ed, provided directly by the Vatican, was initially facilitated through PA International Foundation, a commercial partner of The Parliament Magazine.
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