CV NEWS FEED // The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, His Beatitude Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, made a three-day pastoral visit last week with Catholic parishioners in the northern city district of Jubeiha in Amman, Jordan to “learn more about the reality” of parish life there.
According to a news release from the Patriarchate, Cardinal Pizzaballa spent his first day celebrating Mass, visiting with local parishioners, and ministering to the sick. He also delivered a lecture on spiritual formation, titled “The New Jerusalem,” which included discussion and reflection on various passages in scripture.
As Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, Pizzaballa is responsible for the Archdiocese of Jerusalem, whose jurisdiction includes all Latin Catholics in Israel, Palestine, Jordan, and Cyprus. Jordan is one of the safest regions for Christians in the Patriarchate.
During the homily he delivered at Mass on his first day in Jubeiha, Pizzaballa told parishioners at the Church of Saint Paul the Apostle: “My main goal is to listen to your needs and to learn about the various pastoral activities that I always hear about so that I can bear witness to God’s work among you.”
The Cardinal made visits to the local Patriarchal School and the Pastoral Council on his second day, where he learned of “latest developments and achievements,” and learned of their various needs and suggestions for a path forward. He also met with First Communion and Confirmation students, along with their parents and sponsors, encouraging them to “bear witness” to Christ through their deeds.
Pizzabala’s last day included a visit to the University of Jordan, where he participated in an open meeting in the University Hall. There, he discussed the Church’s “strong relationship with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan,” and the country’s “sublime role in the protection of holy places.”
The Cardinal also addressed the ongoing crisis in Gaza, and its consequences for the region.
As CatholicVote previously reported, Pizzaballa has been outspoken about ending the conflict between Israel and Palestine since the beginning of the war in October, when he openly stated in a video interview with journalists in Rome that he was prepared to offer himself in exchange for the release of Israeli children being held hostage by Hamas.
On the last day of the visit, Pizzaballa celebrated a Pontifical Mass at the Church of Saint Paul the Apostle, together “with the participation of many parish priests and faithful.”
“In his homily,” the release stated, “Cardinal Pierbattista explained that success is not limited to earning money and achieving higher positions, but rather by choosing the right standards to live by that must be compatible with our Christian principles, which are summed up in the act of love, charity, and reflecting the face of God to others.”
