The Church stands with Gaza. The network "Priests (and Bishops) Against Genocide" is born.

It's called the " Priests Against Genocide " network and was born well before the UN popularized the term, defining the Israeli army's intervention in Gaza as such. There are more than a thousand priests and just under a dozen bishops from across Italy and beyond: what unites them is the need to feel part of a Church that speaks out, takes a stand, and denounces, starting from the Gospel .

They are priests and parish priests, bishops and archbishops, who in the height of summer received, through their dioceses, an invitation from Father Rito Maresca , a priest from Mortora, a hamlet of Piano di Sorrento. A few weeks earlier, Father Maresca had celebrated Corpus Christi wearing a chasuble in the colors of the Palestinian flag, as a sign of solidarity but also, indeed, of denunciation and activism.

We are not against anyone, but for every human life. We cannot remain silent in the face of massacres, violence, and violations of international law.

from the document of the Priests Against Genocide network

Since then, the document sent by Don Rito has been circulated throughout the dioceses and currently has more than a thousand signatures, a figure that will almost certainly increase in the coming days.

"We are not against anyone, but for every human life. We cannot remain silent in the face of massacres, violence, and violations of international law," the document reads, which outlines some of the network's commitments: first, " to proclaim the Gospel of a 'disarmed and disarming' peace, as Pope Leo XIV defined it "; second, " to protect victims, denounce war crimes, genocide, and ethnic cleansing , and demand respect for UN resolutions and the pronouncements of the International Criminal Court."

And again, " support for the Christian communities in the Holy Land " and a commitment to "truth and accountability ", which involves "promoting independent investigations into the events of 7 October 2023", but also "not forgetting the Nakba of 1948 with the forced removal of over 700,000 Palestinians from their land" and " recognizing the occupation and apartheid regime that the state of Israel has implemented in Palestine , shedding light on the Israeli media propaganda aimed at tolerating, denying or even accepting the current genocide against the Palestinians".

On September 22nd, the Network's first public initiative: on the day when Italian squares filled with people calling for peace and justice, the Network gathered in the afternoon at Sant'Andrea al Quirinale for a moment of prayer, reflection, and mobilization.

Among the signatures at the bottom of the document is that of Monsignor Giovanni Ricchiuti, president of Pax Christi , who immediately clarifies: "I joined in a personal capacity: these are the individual priests and bishops who have joined the initiative promoted by Father Maresca. Initially, we spoke of 'priests against genocide,' now in fact we are 'priests and bishops against genocide.'"

It was the end of August: talk of genocide, before the UN finally broke all hesitation, was still "divisive," explains Monsignor Ricchiuti. "And it continues to be so, given that just a few hours ago the signature drive and Father Rito's account were blocked by Google. After verification and protests, everything is back up and running, and it's once again possible to join the initiative. The response so far has been very strong, reflecting a Church that doesn't want to remain silent—as it's often accused of—but rather speaks out and takes a stand ."

A difficult position, especially in relations with fellow believers like the Jews. "For this reason, I want to reiterate that this initiative is a call for reconciliation, certainly not a way to raise more walls. I could define it as a sort of ' Catholic suasion ,' an appeal coming from within the Church, which, as we know, is rife with differing opinions. Priests are often identified as those who prefer silence and prudence: now at least a thousand priests are speaking out , breaking their silence, and denouncing the genocide, without mincing words ."

I dream that many of us, priests and bishops, with the Holy Father, can go to Gaza, cross the borders, and walk the streets of the Strip together. I know it's a dream, but I believe this dream is strong and shared in the Church. Going there to say "Peace," or "Shalom."

Monsignor Giovanni Ricchiuti (president of Pax Christi)

But what do the priests and bishops who belong to this network expect? "We must stop the cold daily death toll, which increases every day. And we must do so nonviolently but also concretely, like the Pax Christi initiative " Lighthouses of Peace ," which supports dock workers from Liguria to Puglia who declare their willingness to neither load nor unload ships carrying weapons. The Church today comes out into the open and, like the dock workers, makes a commitment: with this document, we hope to build a bridge to Gaza, but at the same time to Israel, so that it may stay its hand. I am convinced that this Network can reawaken a little courage and commitment in communities. The commitment to peace is a priority for the Church: this is why we pray, this is why we hope, but also why we have the courage to denounce and take a stand ."

And then, Monsignor Ricchiuti confided his dream to us: "With Tonino Bello, in 1992 I was among the 500 priests who went to Sarajevo as a peaceful interposition force. Today I dream that not 500, but 500,000 of us can go to Gaza, convening wherever possible, to cross the borders and walk the streets of the Strip together. I know it's a dream, but I believe this dream is strong and shared in the Church, as is the desire for the Holy Father to visit Gaza and, if possible, Jerusalem, to say 'Peace' and 'Shalom'. This is what I dream and hope for, along with so many of my brothers."

This initiative is a call for reconciliation, not a way to raise more walls. I could call it a sort of "Catholic suasion," an appeal coming from within the Church, which, as we know, is rife with differing opinions.

Monsignor Giovanni Ricchiuti (president of Pax Christi)

Monsignor Franco Moscone , Archbishop of Manfredonia-Vieste-San Giovanni Rotondo, also has a dream: " That our country and the other European countries not only recognize the State of Palestine, but also no longer recognize the State of Israel, until it puts an end to the genocide ." He has no hesitation in calling it genocide: "I defined it that way back in March, prompting protests from the Israeli ambassador. But it's clear that this is what it is: most Western governments still struggle to use this term, or to compare the methods adopted by the State of Israel with those of the Nazi troops. In my opinion, both the methods and the language are precisely the same."

That our country and other European countries not only recognize the State of Palestine, but no longer recognize the State of Israel, until it puts an end to the genocide.

Monsignor Franco Moscone, Archbishop of Manfredonia-Vieste-San Giovanni Rotondo

This is not the time for ambiguous terms and caution: "Perhaps the CEI is appearing a little silent on the issues of Gaza, peace, and rearmament. But I assure you that the people of the Church and the priests have a strong desire and need to expose themselves and denounce, as the Gospel teaches ."

It is in the name of that Gospel and the courage it demands and teaches that " the Church in Gaza is bearing martyrdom in not moving and remaining in the city ," recalls Monsignor Moscone. "A testimony that is worth more than anything else, because presence is essential and it takes truly great courage to remain in that land, while Israeli ministers announce what appears, for all intents and purposes, to be ethnic cleansing, the final solution."

And what can we do from here? What concrete commitment does this network ask of governments? " To cut off arms supplies to Israel, which is unable to procure weapons independently, unlike Russia . Italy could start with these sanctions, but it doesn't seem to me that our government intends to move in that direction. Meanwhile, other states could do so, starting with tiny Switzerland, which supplies Israel with a large quantity of weapons. Of course, we have the problem of the United States, the main supplier, to which we are all subservient," adds Monsignor Moscone.

This, however, is the only possible nonviolent action, which, however, requires responsibility and political resolve. And this is the appeal that, as a member of this network of priests and bishops against genocide, I address to national and international institutions. This massacre must be stopped. We cannot say we did not see it, because it is before our eyes and demands our strong commitment .

Opening photo by the author. Interior photos provided by interviewees.