In early October 2023 Pandora's Box opened in the Middle East wreaking havoc in several countries, while its devastating flames have so far not been quenched. The flames of the conflagration have turned the hopes of peoples into ashes, while hopes for a better future for these peoples of the region have been waning or rather dwindling to an unrecognizable level. It is really a desperate situation for the people of the Gaza Strip who have been striving to attain a dignified life whose basic need to urgently be met.

Amidst the incessant regression in the standard of living in the Gaza Strip, parish priest of the Holy Family Church in Gaza City tells Vatican media about Pope Francis’ final gesture of closeness toward the Christian community sheltered in the compound two days before his death, while reiterating calls for peace in the Holy Land. He says, "For the tiny Christian community sheltered in the Holy Family Church in Gaza, Pope Francis was like a father who closely followed his children in distress for over 18 months. He showed his closeness by offering comfort nearly every night with his voice--even during his long hospitalization at the Gemelli Hospital. He took the time to inquire how they were doing, to ask whether they had eaten, and to say he kept the children in his heart. These phone calls always ended with an invitation to prayer, the safest refuge in a climate of war."

He adds, "We hope that the appeals he made, including the last one he had the strength to issue just hours before his passing, will be heard: that the bombs stop, that this war ends, that hostages and prisoners be freed, and that humanitarian aid to the population can resume and be delivered consistently.”

On the other hand prior to his passing away, Pope Francis dedicated his Easter Urbi et Orbi message to calling for peace worldwide, for global disarmament and for the release of prisoners. Referring to the Holy Land as “wounded by conflict”, and home to an “endless outburst of violence”, he extended his closeness, in particular, to the people of Gaza and to the Christian community in the enclave where “the terrible conflict continues to cause death and destruction and to create a dramatic and deplorable humanitarian situation.”

He said, "I appeal once again for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, for the release of the hostage, and for access to humanitarian aid.”

The Pope's words reverberated in all parts of the world which called for the attainment of a cease-fire in the Holy Land while addressing the international community to act and “come to the aid of a starving people that aspires to a future of peace.”

While appealing to world leaders and decision-makers “to fight hunger and encourage initiatives that promote development,” he added that these “are the ‘weapons’ of peace: weapons that build the future, instead of sowing seeds of death!”

Actually, the world is tired with wars breaking successively in various parts of the world,  which ruin all walks of life including food production and education which are the major tenets of the advancement of societies,  while dreaming of a day to come when all world peoples would work hand-in-hand for the progress of their societies. Furthermore, the peoples of the Middle yearn for genuine peace that enables them to lead a normal life as is the case with other peoples of the world.

The questions that need immediate answers are "will peace ever prevail in the Holy Land" and "Will the people of the Gaza Strip in particular ever enjoy peace and stability while all the problems relevant to ensuring them a dignified life be solved?

On peace, the Holy Bible states, "And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful." (Colossians 3:15)

May the mercy of the Prince of Peace gear the world peoples towards rejection of wars, violence, and persecution, while instilling in the world the aspired Divine Mercy.