Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa was in the Gaza Strip on Sunday for a Christmas season visit with the war-torn enclave’s Christians, some 400 of whom are sheltering on the premises of the Holy Family parish in Gaza City.

“We are living in a time filled with darkness, and there is no need to elaborate because you know it well,” the cardinal told parishioners, in remarks quoted by the Washington-based Catholic Standard. He urged Gaza’s Christians — who number some 1,000 — to keep the faith, expressing support on behalf of the entire world.

“The war will end, and we will rebuild again, but we must guard our hearts to be capable of rebuilding. We love you, so never fear and never give up,” he said.

Pizzaballa, a cardinal who originally hails from Italy, entered Gaza through the Erez Crossing at dawn, accompanied by an Israel Defense Forces escort.

“Entering Gaza is never easy — it is complicated with many issues, such as protocol and security, among others. However, there were also people who helped overcome the obstacles. This is what matters,” the patriarch said during a press conference following his visit, according to the Catholic News Agency.

It was his second time in the Strip since war broke out on October 7, 2023,........

© The Times of Israel