This past weekend, New York Encounter hosted a profound panel discussion, “In the Midst of Hell, Not Hell,” highlighting stories of resilience and hope from the Holy Land. The panel featured voices from Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and Nazareth, offering firsthand perspectives on life amid conflict. 

Moderated by the pope’s envoy to the United Nations, Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, the discussion concluded with a moving letter from Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, OFM, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, that was read aloud to attendees. Here is the full text of his message, shared verbatim with conference participants.  

 “Dear participants of the New York Encounter, May the Lord give you peace! 

“War is inevitably catastrophic. The ensuing humanitarian crisis, often followed by starvation and epidemics, with almost overwhelming destruction and loss, inevitably causes immense human suffering which simply breaks the human heart. When we speak about hell, we speak about total separation from God, and grave as war is, it can never and will never divide us from God. Saint Paul himself cries out with the same struggle/pain ‘Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? …Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the Jove of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.’ Rom. 8, 35-39. 

“It is our relationship with God in Jesus that animates our life. And it is only in Jesus that we can look at the other and see the face of God and not an enemy. For this reason, and at all costs, we must guard our hearts against hatred and revenge. We are called to love, and love is a decision. Jesus taught us to love by His obedience to the will of the Father, even on the cross which in His time was considered a place of hell. It is the light and strength of Christ that dwells in us and despite the long road ahead we will dedicate ourselves to building relationships and trust between communities and continue to believe that small acts of kindness will make a difference. We can only start with ourselves, committing ourselves to love and forgiveness. 

“As we are all very much aware, Pope Francis has designated the year 2025 as a Jubilee year with the title ‘Pilgrims of Hope’. In the Holy Land, this call could not have come at a more opportune moment. 

“Hope is the virtue that allows us to overcome insurmountable obstacles. ln this time of war, we find ourselves much like the three young men in the furnace (Dn. 3, 8-25). The first Christians drew the image of the three young men in the catacombs as a sign that, by being in contact with God through prayer, they had conquered the flames of hell. Similarly, as Christians, we are called to live even in terrible situations with the comfort that comes from the love of Christ, a flame stronger than the fires of hell. 

“Concretely, in our situations of hell, I have witnessed much hope. The resilience of the community in Gaza, despite the challenging circumstances, has become a beacon of hope or many. I have seen brothers and sisters capable of finding joy in simple things, with determination to continue as authentic Christian pilgrims. The contrast between the outer devastation and the inner witness of joy and peace is tangible. 

“Similarly, our Christian faithful in the West Bank have turned to God for comfort and hope during this painful season, with many returning to the sacraments and seeking a deeper Christian life. Thanks to the incredible work at the Spiritual Formation Center for Laity in Beit Jala, inaugurated just before the outbreak of the war, many are being spiritually nourished and growing in their faith. There is an increase in access to counseling and emotional support services through the parishes, Catholic schools are continuing to provide a sense of normalcy and youth groups are vibrant and active despite the difficulty in freedom of movement. 

“The Vicariate for Hebrew speaking Catholics in Israel has answered the call of Pope Francis in this Jubilee Year by celebrating a Mass for Hope, a Concert for Hope and a Christmas musical which brought warmth and joy to Jerusalem already in the first months of 2025. 

“Thus, in some way, the signs of destruction that surround us are met by the concrete signs of hope that spring from within our spirit. The flames of tribulation are not yet extinguished. Our wounds and scars have not disappeared. Yet, these signs and scars direct us to a concrete way of living which is the same shown to us by Christ suffering on the Cross. Just as the depth of the wounds is the measure of His love for us, so too the signs of the wounds remain in the body of the Risen Christ as a witness that the flame of His love has outburned the fires of hell. 

“As you gather to reflect and to share experiences and thoughts in this difficult time be assured of my prayer for each of you in the unwavering certainty that the Risen Christ is truly our Hope. 

“+Pierbattista Cardinal Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem”