NZ bishops express anguish at war, urge prayer for peace

New Zealand’s Catholic bishops have expressed anguish at the many wars being fought in the world today, and have asked Kiwi Catholics to join them in praying for peace.

In a May 22 statement, the bishops referred to Pope Leo XIV’s comments four days earlier about ongoing death and violence in Israel and Gaza, in Ukraine and the recent conflict in India and Pakistan.

“We see, too, warfare in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in Sudan and in Myanmar, among other parts of the world,” the New Zealand bishops said.

“Among those conflicts, there is a unique pain in seeing the place of Our Lord’s birth, life, death and Resurrection torn apart by war, by famine and by destruction.”

The bishops expressed their horror at the sight of people’s dignity and their basic human rights being demeaned or destroyed in the places where Jesus walked and preached.

“War and violence, especially in the context of civilian casualties and insecurity, cannot be wiped away as a problem ‘over there’, one far from our shores,” the bishops said.

“We are appalled by the suffering caused by military and political leaders who seem indifferent when sacrificing the lives of innocent people. We urge all world leaders to work for a true peace in ending these conflicts.

“Where dignity and rights are trampled upon, we all have a duty to react with hearts of compassion and closeness to our brothers and sisters. Where peace and stability are elusive or seemingly unattainable, our prayers are all the more urgent and necessary.”

The bishops implored the Catholic faithful through Aotearoa New Zealand to join them in praying an excerpt from Pope Francis’ prayer for peace.

Meanwhile, Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand gave its backing to a joint call by New Zealand’s Government and 22 other nations for a full resumption of aid into Gaza.

Since March 2, Caritas stated in a Facebook post, Israeli authorities imposed a total siege in Gaza. “This is not a crisis of supply – it is a crisis of access.”

New Zealand joined other nations and the European Union in calling for Israel to allow a full resumption of aid into Gaza immediately, Radio New Zealand reported on May 20. Israel must enable the United Nations and humanitarian organisations to work independently and impartially “to save lives, reduce suffering, and maintain dignity”, the nations stated.

In another Facebook post, Caritas stated that “Caritas in the Holy Land has the food and aid ready for delivery. But we are being denied entry. There is no justification for this.”

At the end of a public audience on May 21 at the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV drew attention to ongoing Israeli military operations in Gaza and its limitations on the delivery of humanitarian aid to the area.

“The situation in Gaza is increasingly worrying and agonising,” Pope Leo said. “I renew my heartfelt appeal to allow the entry of sufficient humanitarian aid and to end the hostilities, the heartbreaking price of which is being paid by children, the elderly and the sick.”

Israel began letting dozens of humanitarian aid trucks into Gaza on May 21, but it was unclear if the aid was reaching distribution points. Israel says it is prepared to stop the war once all the hostages taken by Hamas return home and Hamas is defeated, or is exiled and disarmed. 

FULL STORY

NZ Catholic bishops’ pastoral statement on prayer for peace (NZCBC)

Caritas supports international call for Israel to allow aid to Gaza (Facebook/Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand)

Humanitarian crisis deepening in Gaza (Facebook/Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand)

God’s love is generous, not calculating, pope says at first audience (CNS)

At least 82 killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza as critical aid fails to reach Palestinians (LA Times)

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