The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has issued a strong appeal for peace in Gaza, urging Filipino Catholics to pray, fast, and offer sacrifices amid the ongoing war that continues to claim innocent lives.
In a pastoral letter released at the end of the CBCP’s 130th Plenary Assembly, the bishops condemned the violence and suffering inflicted by the conflict.
“We urge the faithful to pray, fast, and offer sacrifices for peace in Gaza and throughout the world,” the letter said.
“War spares no one and there is no victory in war. The innocent suffer the most,” the bishops said, as they decried the humanitarian toll of the hostilities.
They expressed particular alarm over the use of starvation as a weapon of war. “We condemn the weaponization of starvation. Let food and badly needed humanitarian aid benefit all.”
The CBCP called for an “immediate ceasefire so that serious negotiations can take place for a long lasting solution to the problems of Palestine.”
They also emphasized that true peace can only be achieved through justice and mutual respect, saying, “We advocate for a sustained culture of peace rooted in justice, mercy and our shared humanity, transcending race, religion and politics.”
