Fr. Sosa: “Jerusalem is calling”
“An appeal to Jesuits and laypeople alike to respond to suffering with empathy, reconciliation, and a renewed commitment to peace.
He has just returned from a pilgrimage to Jerusalem and Bethlehem. ‘I wanted to listen to the voices of those who are hurting, to share in the deep suffering born from the belief that the other is not human or worthy of respect.’ He recounts the stories of Palestinians—Muslims and Christians—of confiscated land, shattered lives, and checkpoints experienced as instruments of oppression, alongside the testimony of an Israeli who lost his wife in the attacks of October 7. ‘It is a disaster,’ remarks Fr. Victor Assouad of the Near East Province, who accompanied him on the journey. ‘It is impossible to take sides. There are two narratives. That is the dilemma.’ He shared these reflections during the traditional pre-Christmas meeting with journalists, held yesterday, December 11, at the General Curia.
His thoughts turn to Cardinal Martini, who wrote in 2003: ‘To overcome the idol of hatred and violence, it is essential to listen to and understand the suffering of others.’”
“Where the Church most needs the Society of Jesus is precisely at the frontiers,” Father General highlights. “The mission in the Holy Land is such a frontier. This frontier needs Jesuits who are willing to learn the languages and cultures of its peoples, so that we may fulfill our mission of reconciliation and justice.”
The simple act of being present beside others can become a profound source of consolation. “When someone goes just to say, ‘I want to listen to you,’ it also changes the listener. To sit with a person so they can open their heart, knowing they will be received.” This is the spirit of the letter sent today to the entire Society—a call to create a kind of ‘emergency room’ for listening. “I am also thinking of the many who seek education for their children and who, even in these circumstances, continue to look toward the future.” The appeal also extends to laypeople: “teachers, educators—so that they may feel this calling and respond personally: to listen, to share in people’s lives, and to offer the tools needed to rekindle Hope together.”
Not Just Jerusalem
From Ukraine to Myanmar and Haiti, from Gaza and the West Bank to Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, from the Americas to Syria and Afghanistan: “Over the years, we have witnessed families torn apart and displaced, children denied the chance to grow up in peace, and entire communities wounded in ways that will take generations to heal. For far too many, the sound of war has become a constant backdrop to daily life.
The hatred driving these conflicts has become the only language spoken: shouting without understanding. We have spent too much time trying to prove we are right, and too little time striving to build a better world.”
Lights in the Darkness
“We are called to be People of Good Will who choose compassion over hatred, empathy over indifference, trust over the cynicism that poisons everything it touches. Ministers, humanitarian workers, teachers, community leaders, and ordinary people who stand against injustice show us that dialogue is not weakness, reconciliation is not naivety, and that forgiveness is the only way to prevent hatred from deciding our future.”
In a polarized and politicized world, “empathy has been seen as collusion, reconciliation as betrayal, and the desire for understanding as a sign of wrongdoing. May the light of Advent bring us perseverance, humility, and an unwavering commitment to what is true.”
