Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline of Marseille, France, said his visit to the Holy Land was intended as a gesture of solidarity with the local Christian community and a demonstration of support for “all the friends of peace.”

The visit was his first action after assuming the presidency of the French bishops’ conference on July 1.

“We know that there are friends here, on all sides,” the cardinal said at an Aug. 19 Jerusalem press conference accompanied by Bishop Benoit Bertrand of Pontoise and Archbishop Vincent Jordy of Tours, both vice presidents of the conference. In a press release prior to their visit, the French bishops recognized the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza and the need for the release of the Israeli hostages.

‘It’s hard to live here’

“In our heads, in our hearts, in our prayers, we felt that it is the same for everyone. It’s hard to live here. It’s even harder to live here knowing what’s happening in Gaza, which is nearby. So, we have it in our heads, we have it in our hearts, we feel how much this situation weighs on us,” said Cardinal Aveline at the concluding press conference of their Aug. 16-20 visit.

Church sources confirmed to OSV News that the churches in Gaza are OK, although fighting has intensified all around them as Israel continues to expand its military campaign and Hamas continues to hold 50 people hostage, 20 of whom are believed to still be alive.

“The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem is closely monitoring the rapidly evolving situation in Gaza City, particularly in light of recent decisions and the ongoing mobilization towards an imminent invasion,” the Latin Patriarchate said in an Aug. 20 statement obtained by OSV News

Bombardments are ‘dangerously close’

“Reports received from our parish of the Holy Family indicate that several quarters in the vicinity of the compound have now been served with evacuation orders,” it said. “Our people on the ground testify that the sound and impact of bombardments are drawing dangerously close to the parish compound itself.”

According to local reports, two heavy explosions were heard right next to Holy Family Church the morning of Aug. 19, and displaced people nearby have moved their tents.

Nevertheless, Father Gabriel Romanelli, Gaza Holy Family Parish priest, told Vatican News that there has not been an evacuation order of the parish’s area of the neighborhood, which is in the Old City of Gaza in the larger neighborhood of Zeitoun.

Phone call with Holy Family Parish priest

Cardinal Aveline said that in a phone conversation with Father Romanelli, the Argentine-born priest told him the situation was “even more uncertain” but did not give further details.

“That’s part of this poverty that we all find ourselves in: uncertainty,” Cardinal Aveline said. “But what struck me was, in spite of that, the inner strength of this man and his confidence, whatever happens.”

Cardinal Aveline also expressed admiration for the Latin patriarch, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, and his “patience and courage” and “will to tell the truth without ever allowing any expression of truth to harm the dignity of a person.”

Cardinal Aveline said they heard a lot of “sadness, a lot of desolation, a lot of worry, a lot of anguish” from people they met.

West Bank Christian village of Taybeh

The French delegation visited the West Bank Christian village of Taybeh, where extremist Israeli settlers have become increasingly more violent against the village, meeting with the priests of the Latin and Melkite Catholic and Greek Orthodox churches. They also made a pilgrimage to Bethlehem where they sadly noted the almost complete absence of pilgrims.

“We’re not here to talk. Above all we came to listen,” said Cardinal Aveline. “We are here to listen, to try to understand what is happening, to better understand the issues, to understand the situation.”

They will bring back their reflections and what they learned to the French and other European churches, he said.

The prelates urged a gradual return of pilgrims as the situation allows it, not only because the pilgrim experience can profoundly impact a person’s faith as a living part of their history, but because it also would have a vital impact on the local economy, allowing families to remain in the Holy Land.