In the midst of the holiday season, as people around the world gather with their families and loved ones to celebrate, there is a heartbreaking story that needs to be told. It is the story of eight-year-old Yamen Abu Hilal from Gaza City, Gaza Strip, who lies on a hospital bed, his health rapidly deteriorating due to the collapse of Gaza’s healthcare system.
Yamen’s condition has worsened because the healthcare system in Gaza has been unable to provide him with the necessary diagnostic tools, medication, and equipment. This is because no medical supplies have been able to enter the Strip since the ceasefire. As a result, Yamen and many other children in Gaza are suffering, their lives hanging in the balance.
This devastating situation has caught the attention of church leaders in Jerusalem who have called on the Israeli government to allow children in Gaza with leukemia to receive treatment at Augusta Victoria Hospital on the Mount of Olives. In a statement released on December 17, the Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem appealed to the Israeli government on humanitarian grounds to allow for swift treatment for these children.
The church leaders have made it clear that there will be no burden on the government as the hospital will cover all costs. Their plea is not just for Yamen, but for all children in Gaza who are in desperate need of medical care. The treatment for their condition is not available in Gaza, and it has the potential to transform their lives.
This call for action is not just limited to the church leaders in Jerusalem. In India, more than 25,000 people from different faith backgrounds gathered in Mumbai for the country’s largest Christmas music festival. The event, with the theme “Peace and Hope to All in a World in Turmoil,” aimed to bring people together in unity and joy. As Cardinal Oswald Gracias, archbishop emeritus of Bombay, said, “Jesus is not just the Prince of Peace; he is peace himself.”
Meanwhile, an award-winning investigative report has shed light on the damage suffered by churches in Sudan amid the ongoing conflict. The investigation, produced by Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism and the Mountain Media network, documents the harm to 23 churches and one monastery. It highlights the need for more international coverage of these incidents, as they could potentially be classified as war crimes or crimes against humanity.
In Melbourne, Australia, the Archdiocese has launched preparations for an archdiocesan synod in 2026. This synodal process will focus on three key themes: young discipleship, missionary leadership, and formation and participation. As Archbishop Peter Comensoli said, these themes have emerged from listening, discernment, and consultation done in recent years, including the plenary council process. The synod aims to bring the community together and address the needs of the Church.
In South America, the missionary rosary tradition continues to unite Catholics from Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, and Bolivia. Through the Pontifical Mission Societies’ online missionary rosary, hundreds of people of all ages gathered to pray together. Brother Giancarlo Chirinos Barrera, national secretary of the Peruvian Pontifical Society for the Propagation of the Faith, reminded everyone that we are all called to be missionaries, and it is beautiful to do so accompanied by the Virgin Mary.
As we celebrate Christmas and the new year, the Christian community in Kurdistan, Iraq, is once again facing vandalism of their sacred sites. The most recent incident involved a Christian cemetery in Shaqlawa, where crosses and grave markers were damaged. This is not an isolated incident, and local officials have made efforts to identify and arrest the suspect. However, these acts of hate speech and vandalism can have a deep impact on minority communities, and stronger deterrence is needed to prevent them.
Amidst all of this, there is a glimmer of hope in Pakistan. For the first time, the government sponsored a Christmas rally in the country’s Punjab province. Thousands of people, including Catholic and Protestant clergy, joined in the procession, singing Christmas carols and spreading a message of peace and unity. The minister for minority affairs, Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora, stated that the rally aims to counter negative propaganda against Pakistan.
As we reflect on the current state of the world, stories like Yamen’s and the initiatives taken by the church and community leaders remind us of the power of unity and compassion. They remind us that even in the darkest
