Hope

A couple of days back we had again missile attacks in the night and early morning. It's not quite as over as you think. You hear one thing on the international news, we live another reality unlike news reports. You should read or watch the news with a pinch of salt.

Patriarch overseeing food
distribution

Our patriarch entered the war torn enclave 4 days ago after part of the church roof collapsed due to a bomb, killing 3 christians and injuring others including the parish priest. There's a growing propaganda in social media denying the church was ever bombed, that nobody died (or not mentioned at all) ... it's horrible purposeful misinformation to justify one's evil and vilify the victim. The pope's initial response was weak and disappointing. All he could say was "deeply saddened" by the deaths as if they were strangers, non-catholics, nameless faceless statistics. Compare the reaction and language of the local patriarchs, bishops and church leaders. Everyone was disheartened by a "spiritual father" who was cold and distant to the deaths of his own children. 4 days later - yesterday - he attempted to redress that by mentioning the dead by name and using more forceful language during the Angelus. Too little too late. The dead were buried 2 days earlier, the mourners have left, the cemetery is once again silent. Pope Francis would have reacted differently; Pope Leo XIII the great social reformer would have reacted differently.

Anyway the patriarch's visit of solidarity was very brave in the midst of the war. Despite the casualties, our christians swore to stay on. Some 500 christians shelter in our parish compound, and they provide food not just for themselves but also to the 500 muslim families who live around outside the compound. Everyone tries to share a bit of hope. It's the only thing left.