(ANSA) - ROME, DEC 22 - The Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, crossed into the Gaza Strip on Sunday morning, the Patriarchate of Jerusalem said. Cardinal Pizzaballa "entered the Gaza Strip this morning and reached the compound of the Holy Family parish church for a visit of solidarity and the celebration of Christmas", said the patriarchate, referring to the only Catholic church in the Gaza Strip.
    Cardinal Piazzaballa told worshippers at the Holy Family parish church that they would not be left alone.
    "We will never abandon you", he said during his sermon.
    "Don't be afraid", the cardinal repeated and "preserve your hearts", "together we recall that Jesus is here with you". "I bring you the solidarity of the whole Church", "you have in some way become the light of our Church and Christmas is indeed the celebration of light" and "in this situation too we must see the sense of our lives".
    "Create relations, don't surrender to this situation", continued the cardinal, assuring that "people from all over the world, not only Christians, are with you".
    "So you can also give something because the whole world is watching.
    "It is necessary to choose whether to belong to the light or darkness, to Jesus or to someone else.
    "We are proud of you, not for something special, but because you have remained what you are: Christians with Jesus.
    "We will bring from here with us the light of Jesus", concluded Pizzaballa, who administered confirmation to a group of youths.
    (ANSA).