His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew has condemned the ongoing crisis in Gaza, describing it as “a true disgrace to the human race, to all of humanity.”
The spiritual leader of the world’s Eastern Orthodox Christians made the remarks during a liturgy and reopening ceremony of the Church of the Transfiguration of Christ the Saviour on Heybeliada (Halki) Island, in the Sea of Marmara near Istanbul.
“We are watching with abhorrence the scenes of civilians, of innocent children, dying of hunger, but also of hostages digging their own graves,” the Patriarch said. “It is a true disgrace to the human race, to all of humanity.”
While acknowledging the difficulty of changing the course of history, His All-Holiness emphasised that the Church must continue to offer hope and strive to transform the world.
“We well know that it is not easy to overturn the flow of reality, the flow of history. But the Church never abandons hope, never abandons its effort to transform the world. Because the world cannot be transformed either with violence or with wars. Look at history and you shall see,” he said.
The Patriarch’s comments come as the humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, with international calls mounting for a ceasefire and increased aid.
Source: AMNA.gr
