by Antonio Porcellato* and Antonella Prenna
Jerusalem – “I quickly realized that I could not report anything specific about the current situation and the conflict with Gaza, since we live in a kind of bubble in the Old City of Jerusalem, where we have no contact with the Arabic- and Hebrew-speaking inhabitants, nor with the media that use the same languages,” Father Antonio Porcellato, former Superior General of the Society of African Missions, told Fides. The religious is currently in Jerusalem for retreat and study.
“I flew from Rome-Fiumicino airport to Tel Aviv on Monday, September 8, and arrived in Jerusalem in the late afternoon without any problems,” he reports. “I am a guest at the large house of the Missionaries of Africa , attached to the Basilica of St. Anne in the historic center of East Jerusalem. The wall that borders the Temple Mount is only a hundred meters from St. Anne. I am participating in a three-month course organized by the White Fathers, called Bethesda, after the ancient pool mentioned in the Gospel of John. The excavations that have brought this ancient pool to light are located on land administered by the White Fathers, which formally belongs to France. Next to the remains of the pool stands a beautiful Romanesque church, built by the Crusaders around 1200. It is dedicated to St. Anne, as it was built over a cave that, according to tradition, was considered the home of Anne and Joachim and thus the birthplace of Mary, the mother of Jesus.”
Father Antonio explains that he is currently participating in the event, which the White Fathers living in Jerusalem organize for missionaries every year.
“There are 12 of us participating in total. All the buildings from that period were destroyed, as was much of Jerusalem. These three months are a privileged opportunity to delve deeper into the biblical narratives and visit the places described. They are also an opportunity to take stock of one’s own life for those, like me, who have completed a demanding task and are preparing for the next phase of life. In addition to the visits, there is also plenty of time for personal reflection, group discussions, and prayer,” the missionary continues.
“It’s still too early to express an opinion on the conflict between Israel and Palestine, and especially on Gaza. The one thing that’s quite obvious in Jerusalem is the sharp decline in both Christian and Muslim pilgrims,” he affirms. “For example, I visited the Church of the Holy Sepulchre several times and was able to spend many minutes alone praying in the small grotto where Jesus’ body was laid out, as there wasn’t the usual line of pilgrims waiting to enter. This situation has dramatic economic and social consequences for everyone, especially for the Palestinians. The crisis that began with the coronavirus epidemic continued with the war that followed the Hamas massacre on October 7, 2023.”
“I came here with a head and a heart full of faces, people, encounters, affection, situations of suffering, and prayer intentions. In quiet moments and in all the places we have visited, I have the opportunity to remember and pray, especially for those experiencing grief or illness,” the missionary concludes.
*Missionary of the Society of African Missions, former Superior General
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