” ““The friars have not been attacked, they have not been wounded and no structural damage has been made to the Holy Places”. This was reported to SIR by the Custodian of the Holy Land, father Pierbattista Pizzaballa, who “plays down” the news that speak of an “attack against the friars”. “Not at all explains the Custodian who has just finished a round of calls to check on the state of the places and the friars of the Custody It was just a blast from an explosion in Haifa, which happened to hit a friar who was driving through, on his way to a sanctuary. It was not a targeted attack”. “The real damage is that the Holy Places are getting empty, the pilgrims are leaving the country”, adds the Custodian, who however seems to be confident in the future. There are no news of cancelled journeys but delayed departures, “which means the pilgrims hope the matter will sort itself out in a few days. We hope in the end common sense will prevail and the diplomacies will find a solution or a way to a ceasefire”. “What is happening in Lebanon he concludes is clouding the matter of the kidnapped Israeli soldiers. Don’t let’s forget them. Let’s pray and hope they’ll be released”.
