DESPITE having bad knees and suffering from sciatica, Pope Francis recently had an extended tour of southeast Asia and Oceania, traveling to four countries — Indonesia (pictured above), Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Singapore — over a span of 12 days.

This was the farthest trip of his pont-ificate, and one of the longest papal trips ever in terms of days on the road and distance travelled. During these visits, the pope emphasised urgent action on climate change, and stressed the need for interfaith dialogue.

However, one of the most significant moments of the journey was his visit to a township of around 12,000 people on the edge of a deep jungle in Papua New Guinea where the pope distributed hundreds of essential items, including medicines, clothing, candies and toys, among the natives and their children.

In Papua New Guinea, the pope conti-nued to emphasise ending tribal disputes, equitable distribution of resources to benefit local populace rather than mul-tinational companies that extract reso-urces, urging gender equality and respect for women.

In essence, these visits mark yet another powerful chapter in the legacy of the pontiff, known for his compassionate outreach and prayers for his followers worldwide.

The pope, despite his old age and falling health, visited places that were never visited by a pope earlier, or where the Catholics formed a small minority. His mission of peace and humanitarian aid really deserves applause.

Having said that, the Christian comm-unity in Palestine has been facing severe hardships in the face of Israeli brutalities, and deserves to have the pope among them. Though small in numbers, Christians remain concentrated mostly in the West Bank towns of Ramallah and Bethlehem, as well as in occupied Jerusalem and Gaza.

Resolute and determined, they refuse to abandon their ancestral homes as well as businesses despite the relentless atrocities they have been facing alongside their Muslim brothers and sisters. Israeli airstrikes have not spared their homes or churches either, and these communities have endured severe hardships.

One of the most significant historic Christian landmarks in Gaza, the Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Porphyrius, located in the Zaytoun neighbourhood, still stands as a symbol of resilience. Alongside, there is the Holy Family Church, Gaza’s only Catholic parish, and the larger Latin church in Gaza, both representing the deep-rooted Christian presence in the region.

However, the most tragic victims of the ongoing Israeli airstrikes and ground assaults in Gaza are the innocent children irrespective of their religion or creed. These children, who should have been the torchbearers of a brighter future, have become victims of an unforgivable and heinous crime against humanity.

A visit of the charismatic Pope Francis to Catholic and Orthodox churches in war-ravaged Gaza would be more than a gesture of solidarity; it would serve as a catalyst for promoting interfaith harmony and bringing hostilities to a standstill. With his powerful global influence, the pope has the ability to call attention to the ongoing atrocities and to save the lives and futures of children whose education has already suffered irreversible damage in war-torn Palestinian areas.

As a firm believer in interfaith harmony, I believe the pope’s visit to war-ravaged Gaza will surely bring the much-awaited peace, and will at least help in preven-ting any further massacre of children.

Qamer Soomro
Shikarpur

Published in Dawn, September 24th, 2024