Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Secretary of State of His Holiness, urged Catholics not to emigrate from the Holy Land.
Deacon Diab Roshrosh, O.F.M., oversees youth ministry at the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth. Now on pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi with 40 of the parish’s young adults, Deacon Roshrosh said that he met with Cardinal Parolin on September 16, and that the prelate “urged us to stay, not to leave our land because of the tragic conflict gripping it, and to bear witness to a human identity that follows the example of Saint Francis.”
The pilgrims from Nazareth also met briefly with Pope Leo at his general audience, during which the Pontiff greeted them:
I greet the Arabic-speaking faithful, especially those from the Parish of the Annunciation in Nazareth. We are called to respect each person, and to care for one another, in order to build a more humane world. May the Lord bless you all and always protect you from all evil.