From Italy 160 pilgrims flying towards the war in the Holy Land, ‘cicerone’ Cardinal Zuppi
They are the first "tourists" since October 7th, leaving from the airports of Bologna, Venice, Milan and Rome to bring a message of peace and friendship. "It's like when you go to a friend who is ill"
BOLOGNA – Flying from Italy to the Holy Land, despite the war. They are the first pilgrims since October 7th, the date that marked the start of the conflict between Israel and Hamas and the tragedy in the Gaza Strip. The leader of the “group” is Matteo Zuppi, cardinal archbishop of Bologna and president of the CEI, intercepted this morning while he was in line at the “Marconi” airport and waiting for check-in for the flight.
“Let’s think about the friend who is ill. It’s like when a friend of ours is ill: it’s important to go and visit him”: Zuppi, while waiting with his traveling companions towards Israel, thus, speaking to reporters, frames the meaning of the pilgrimage of peace which starts today. 161 will visit the places of the Holy Land from today to Sunday, the first pilgrims from October 7.
An idea born atEaster by Zuppi and the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem,Pierbattista Pizzaballa: when it was proposed, the reaction was almost one of disbelief: “What year are we talking?”, was more or less the reaction. Answer: as soon as possible. And today we leave. “If we are here it is because everything is not okay” where the war is raging, says a participant in the trip. “Yet you have to believe it, it’s happening,” the neighbor replies. “It’s an idea of peace that we’re trying to build,” adds another.
ZUPPI: “A ‘MESSAGE’ IS NOT ENOUGH, WITH MY PRESENCE WE BRING CLOSENESS AND FRIENDSHIP”
“What is happening between Israel and Palestine is “one of the greatest tragedies of our time. It’s like going to a friend who is ill and suffering: we can’t bring anything except closeness and friendship, and say ‘we are with you’, and this is what counts”, insists Zuppi. There is also a certain amount of courage. “The conditions (on the ‘ground’ in the Middle East, ed.) advise against anyone and instead advise friends to try, even more so, of a demonstration of friendship. Usually for a problem we send a message, but the presence is always different: we must never make love remotely the cardinal. The pilgrimage, he adds, is “long awaited” in the Holy Land: it includes meetings with Israelis, Palestinians and the local Christian community. “We will meet and listen, we will say ‘we are close to you, and we pray’ for you and together with you’. We are only waiting for the day of the end of violence and the resumption of hope for the future”.
DEPARTURES FROM BOLOGNA, MILAN, ROME AND VENICE, STEAL THE FIRST 100 TICKETS
Other pilgrims still leave today fromMilan, Rome and Venice. The first 100 tickets literally sold out and others were added and flights were found. “Almost a miracle,” say the organizers. To accommodate pilgrims, some hotels will actually open specifically. “There is a desire for communion with Christian communities and with these two peoples” in the hope that “bringing a presence” triggers “a feeling of desire for peace and reconciliation” between the two peoples and also with “our Christian brothers who are not only in tribulation but also in martyrdom”, says DonMario Zacchini, parish priest ofSant’Antonio di Savena.
“It was a great commitment. An airlift with departures from Milan, Rome and Venice. A great responsibility and a service for peace. The pilgrimage is a response to a call from Monsignor Pizzaballa who at Easter told us ‘come back’ because religious tourism is a sign of hope and recovery of the economy destroyed by the conflict. This journey is all about solidarity, friendship and service”, says Andrea Babbi, president of Petroniana Viaggi which organized the pilgrimage.