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Bethlehem (Agenzia Fides) – Leaving Caritas Baby Hospital, the Pope traveled to the Aida Refugee Camp in Bethlehem, a camp of refugees in the Palestinian Territories, home to Muslims and Christians. “My visit to the Aida Refugee Camp this afternoon gives me a welcome opportunity to express my solidarity with all the homeless Palestinians who long to be able to return to their birthplace, or to live permanently in a homeland of their own,” Pope Benedict XVI said in his address. The Pope highlighted the importance of educating the youth, as an expression of hope in the future, and encouraged the youth to prepare themselves for when “you will be responsible for the affairs of the Palestinian people in years to come.” He then recalled the divided families or those in situations of suffering, saying: “be assured that all Palestinian refugees across the world, especially those who lost homes and loved ones during the recent conflict in Gaza, are constantly remembered in my prayers.”
Acknowledging the great work carried out by many Church agencies in caring for the refugees, the Holy Father recalled the figure of Saint Francis and “the enormous contribution made by different members of the Franciscan family in caring for the people of these lands, making themselves 'instruments of peace,'... How much the people of this camp, these Territories, and this entire region long for peace!”
The Pontiff then recalled the events of May 1948 and the years of conflict left unresolved, which followed: “Your legitimate aspirations for permanent homes, for an independent Palestinian State, remain unfulfilled. Instead you find yourselves trapped, as so many in this region and throughout the world are trapped, in a spiral of violence, of attack and counter-attack, retaliation, and continual destruction. The whole world is longing for this spiral to be broken, for peace to put an end to the constant fighting.”
The Holy Father continued: “In a world where more and more borders are being opened up – to trade, to travel, to movement of peoples, to cultural exchanges – it is tragic to see walls still being erected. How we long to see the fruits of the much more difficult task of building peace! How earnestly we pray for an end to the hostilities that have caused this wall to be built!” He then highlighted that “On both sides of the wall, great courage is needed if fear and mistrust is to be overcome, if the urge to retaliate for loss or injury is to be resisted. It takes magnanimity to seek reconciliation after years of fighting... There has to be a willingness to take bold and imaginative initiatives towards reconciliation: if each insists on prior concessions from the other, the result can only be stalemate.”
The Holy Father concluded his address with an appeal to the international community, “to bring their influence to bear in favor of a just and lasting solution, respecting the legitimate demands of all parties and recognizing their right to live in peace and dignity, in accordance with international law.” He then called for a “profound commitment to cultivate peace and non-violence, following the example of Saint Francis and other great peacemakers.” (SL) (Agenzia Fides 15/5/2009)
