Bishops mark third anniversary of Hamas attack

Bishop Nicholas Hudson and Bishop James Curry issued a joint statement on the third anniversary of the Hamas attack that killed approximately 1,200 people and resulted in 251 hostages. The bishops noted the massacre of Israeli civilians occurred during the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah.

The statement includes prayers for the Israelis killed or taken hostage, their families, and the Jewish community worldwide. The bishops also expressed prayers for the tens of thousands killed in Gaza and all those suffering from the ongoing war.

The bishops cited Pope Leo XIV, who stated that no future can be built on violence, forced exile, or vengeance. They also referenced Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, who has urged the Church to maintain dialogue in the Holy Land despite the complexity of the situation.

Hudson and Curry advocated for justice, forgiveness, and reconciliation. They called for an end to antisemitism globally and prayed for a lasting peace in the Holy Land.