(ZENIT News / Vatican City, 10.09.2024).- In a powerful act of charity, members of the Vatican’s Synod of Bishops donated a total of €62,000 to support a parish in Gaza, demonstrating the Church’s ongoing commitment to offering concrete aid to those affected by conflict. The collection was initiated by the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Service of Charity during the October 7 session of the Synod on Synodality, marking the anniversary of the start of war in the Holy Land.
Leading this effort was Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, the papal almoner, who personally passed around a donation basket to the 368 synod participants before the afternoon session in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall. The gesture, though simple, held profound significance. It symbolized not just financial assistance, but a shared sense of responsibility and solidarity with those enduring the ongoing hardships in Gaza.
The collection, amounting to €32,000 from the Synod participants, was supplemented by an additional €30,000 from the Vatican itself, bringing the total to €62,000. These funds were promptly sent to Father Gabriel Romanelli, the parish priest of the Holy Family Church in Gaza, through the Apostolic Nunciature in Jerusalem.
Father Romanelli, in a touching video message alongside a group of children and parents from his parish, expressed deep gratitude to Pope Francis and the Synod members for their generosity. «We truly thank you for your prayers, your closeness, and the concrete help you have provided,» he said, emphasizing the dire need for ongoing support in a region still reeling from the impact of conflict.
Pope Francis, who has been in daily contact with Father Romanelli since the outbreak of war, has been a consistent advocate for peace in the region. On the same day as the collection, the Pope urged Catholics worldwide to wield the «weapons of love»—prayer, fasting, and charity—as part of the Church’s call for peace in the Middle East.
The Vatican’s Dicastery for Charity also highlighted the deeper spiritual significance of this charitable act. In a statement, they reminded the faithful that “prayer and fasting are incomplete without almsgiving,” urging people to give in a way that “causes them to suffer”—to give up something they hold dear to help those who are suffering or facing death.
The video of thanks from Gaza was met with applause from the Synod participants, an emotional moment that underscored the tangible impact of their collective effort. Paolo Ruffini, the Prefect for the Dicastery for Communication and President of the Synod’s Information Commission, confirmed the successful collection and conveyed the deep appreciation felt by those in Gaza for the Vatican’s outreach.
As the war continues to cast its shadow over Gaza, where daily life is marked by destruction and scarcity, this donation represents more than just financial support—it is a symbol of the Church’s ongoing commitment to peace, compassion, and solidarity with those in need. The funds, now in the hands of Father Romanelli and his community, will help provide critical resources to families in Gaza who are grappling with overwhelming challenges.
This act of giving from the Synod serves as a reminder that the Church’s mission transcends borders, offering not just spiritual guidance but also material support to those enduring the harshest realities of war. Pope Francis’s daily contact with Father Romanelli and his call for global prayer and fasting are reflections of a Church that remains deeply engaged in the pursuit of peace, even in the darkest of times.
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