Afrasianet - Once again, the Christian world has witnessed the passage of Easter according to the Western calendar and Palm Sunday according to the Eastern calendar in the midst of more tragedies, pains and disasters, and sorrows have not left a space for joy or a taste of celebration for believers, old and young, women and men.
Instead of remembering the resurrection of Christ with joy, peace and tranquility, innocent lives were lost in Palestine, Lebanon and Iran, the doors of churches were closed to worshippers, and the American and Israeli war machine continued to shed blood and destroy civilization more and more.
In occupied Jerusalem, Gaza and Bethlehem, including Catholic, Protestant, Greek Orthodox, Syriac, Armenian and Abyssinian churches, the occupation authorities resorted to restricting movement and preventing access to churches, preventing the holding of services and prayers.
Thus, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem was forced to hold Mass in Bethlehem, behind the doors of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which has been closed for 37 consecutive days, and in the presence of a very limited number of worshippers.
In Gaza City, Christians celebrated Easter at the historic Church of St. Porphyrius, which was bombed by Israeli shelling on October 19, 2023, killing 18 Palestinians, both Christians and Muslims, who had taken refuge in the church.
In Lebanon, the Lebanese president had no choice but to turn the Passover Mass into a political platform after a retreat with Maronite Patriarch Bechara al-Rahi, where he touched on the open Israeli aggression on Lebanese territory, and the issues of disarming Hezbollah and its exclusivity in the hands of the state The prospects of negotiations with the occupying power even seemed as if the patriarchal edifice in Bkerki had replaced the Baabda Palace, the seat of the Lebanese presidency.
Abroad, the Israeli bombers and drones continued to target the southern suburbs and other areas in the Bekaa and Mount Lebanon, and penetrated further into the south.
No wonder the Secretary of War followed suit, declaring that the U.S. military is fighting "in the name of Christ," and the Treasury Secretary tweeting, "On this holiest day for Christians, it is fitting to save a brave American warrior."
If Pope Leo XIV avoided mentioning names or identifying countries, he did not hesitate to denounce those whose hands were "stained with blood," that the Lord "rejects war, no one can use it to justify war," and "does not listen to the prayers of those who wag war He even rejects wars, saying, "Even if you pray a lot, I will not listen to you."
It is not without special significance that this pope is the first American to hold the papacy, and this is his first Easter message since he ascended to the Holy See last May.
Source : Al-Quds Al-Arabi
