As Catholics, we all called to pray and work for peace in the Holy Land.
On Sept. 29, President Donald Trump unveiled a 20-point peace plan for Gaza and Israel, offering a complex proposal that demands our prayerful discernment.
Israel and Hamas agreed to implement the first phase of a peace deal on Oct. 8 and that condition was met on Oct. 13 when hostages from both sides were released.
While its call for an immediate ceasefire, hostage release, and humanitarian aid aligns with the Church’s cry for justice and mercy, its challenges require a response rooted in the Gospel and the Church’s social teaching. Pope Leo XIV has expressed cautious hope, noting the proposal’s “realistic” elements and urged Hamas to accept it within the stipulated timeframe. Yet, while both sides have agreed in principle to the accord, much work is to be completed.
President Trump said after the signing of the accord that “with the historic agreement we have just signed, those prayers of millions have finally been answered. Together, we have achieved the impossible.”
The proposal’s next stage includes an influx of unrestricted humanitarian aid to Gaza, which is the home of the Holy Family Church Catholic community that endure amid the devastation. While the proposal is promising, peace cannot be built on half measures.
The Church has steadfastly supported a two-state solution, as articulated by Holy Fathers from Pope Paul VI to Pope Francis, grounded in the dignity of all peoples in the Holy Land. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state, recently emphasized that any credible plan must involve the Palestinian people as equal partners and provide an inclusive path to Palestinian self-determination.
Some earlier iterations suggested possible Palestinian deportation, which Cardinal Parolin firmly rejected as contrary to the Holy See’s stance that Palestinians “must stay on their land.” However, the current proposal avoids such language, focusing instead on reconstruction and a temporary international governing body led by Trump and former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair.
The Gospel demands that we “bless and do not curse” those embroiled in conflict.
Catholics must pray fervently for the success of negotiations in Egypt, that both Israel and Hamas may embrace compromise over escalation. War, as St. John Paul II warned, is “always a defeat for humanity.” The Church’s just war doctrine permits defense but never the dehumanization of any group, and we must hold all parties to this standard.
Catholics worldwide are called to join Bishop A. Elias Zaidan and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in praying for peace, an end to violence, and the release of hostages.
The Holy Land’s future hinges on dialogue, not domination; on justice, not retribution.
The path to peace is narrow, but as Catholics, we believe in the transformative power of hope and charity. Let us stand with the Holy Land’s people, whether they be Jewish, Muslim, or Christian, in building a future where all may dwell in God’s peace.