USCCB chair prays for peace following Hamas’ attack on Israel
October 9, 2023 at 6:56 p.m.
Following Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel, Bishop David J. Malloy of Rockford, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on International Justice and Peace, called for prayers for peace in the Holy Land and decried the "continued tensions and violence that erupted into warfare between Gaza and Israel."
"The world is once again shocked and horrified by the outbreak of ferocious violence in the Holy Land. Reports have surfaced indicating large numbers of wounded and dead, including many civilians," Bishop Malloy said in an Oct. 8 statement.
On Oct. 7, Hamas militants launched a surprise attack in southern Israel with missiles and a ground invasion during which an estimated 700 Israeli soldiers and citizens were killed, while dozens others were taken hostage and brought to Gaza. Thousands of people in Palestinian territories were injured and an estimated 400 others dead from Israel's retaliation, including airstrikes that began hours following the Hamas attack.
"As we pray urgently for peace, we recall especially all the families and individuals suffering from these events," Bishop Malloy’s statement said, adding calls for respect for civilian populations and the release of hostages. "Almost 50 years to the day of the launch of the 1973 Arab–Israeli War, once again war is spilling out in the Holy Land. With it brings the mounting casualties and hostilities unfolding on all sides, and increased threats to the Status Quo of the Holy Places among Jews, Muslims, and Christians further dimming any hope for peace."
According to the World Jewish Congress, the United States is home to at least 5.7 million Jews, and its Jewish population is second only to Israel, which has more than 6.3 million Jews. With about 1.9 million Jews, New York City is home to the largest Jewish population in the U.S.
Following the public Angelus prayer Sunday, Pope Francis said he is following "with apprehension and sorrow," the situation in Israel, "where violence has erupted even more ferociously, causing hundreds of deaths and injuries."
"Please stop the attacks and the weapons, and understand that terrorism and war do not lead to any solution, but only to the death and suffering of so many innocent people," he said. "War is always a defeat! Every war is a defeat!"
Bishop Malloy's statement concluded with urgent prayers for peace and solidarity with those suffering from these events. "We call on the faithful, and all people of good will to not grow weary and to continue to pray for peace in the land Our Lord, the Prince of Peace, called home," he said.
Maria Wiering is senior writer for OSV News.
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Following Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel, Bishop David J. Malloy of Rockford, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on International Justice and Peace, called for prayers for peace in the Holy Land and decried the "continued tensions and violence that erupted into warfare between Gaza and Israel."
"The world is once again shocked and horrified by the outbreak of ferocious violence in the Holy Land. Reports have surfaced indicating large numbers of wounded and dead, including many civilians," Bishop Malloy said in an Oct. 8 statement.
On Oct. 7, Hamas militants launched a surprise attack in southern Israel with missiles and a ground invasion during which an estimated 700 Israeli soldiers and citizens were killed, while dozens others were taken hostage and brought to Gaza. Thousands of people in Palestinian territories were injured and an estimated 400 others dead from Israel's retaliation, including airstrikes that began hours following the Hamas attack.
"As we pray urgently for peace, we recall especially all the families and individuals suffering from these events," Bishop Malloy’s statement said, adding calls for respect for civilian populations and the release of hostages. "Almost 50 years to the day of the launch of the 1973 Arab–Israeli War, once again war is spilling out in the Holy Land. With it brings the mounting casualties and hostilities unfolding on all sides, and increased threats to the Status Quo of the Holy Places among Jews, Muslims, and Christians further dimming any hope for peace."
According to the World Jewish Congress, the United States is home to at least 5.7 million Jews, and its Jewish population is second only to Israel, which has more than 6.3 million Jews. With about 1.9 million Jews, New York City is home to the largest Jewish population in the U.S.
Following the public Angelus prayer Sunday, Pope Francis said he is following "with apprehension and sorrow," the situation in Israel, "where violence has erupted even more ferociously, causing hundreds of deaths and injuries."
"Please stop the attacks and the weapons, and understand that terrorism and war do not lead to any solution, but only to the death and suffering of so many innocent people," he said. "War is always a defeat! Every war is a defeat!"
Bishop Malloy's statement concluded with urgent prayers for peace and solidarity with those suffering from these events. "We call on the faithful, and all people of good will to not grow weary and to continue to pray for peace in the land Our Lord, the Prince of Peace, called home," he said.
Maria Wiering is senior writer for OSV News.