Cardinal Stephen Brislin on the Anniversary of October 7

by Cardinal Stephen Brislin · Published October 7, 2024 · Updated October 6, 2024

Photo: Migel Vanas

And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace. (James 3:18)

Over the next few days the world will remember the horrifying events of October 7″ and the violent aftermath. As we recall the tragic loss of life and the abduction of hostages on that day, which we condemned then as we do now, it is imperative that we, as Christians, commit ourselves to fervent prayer for peace and to work for justice.

We hold sacred the dignity of all human life and for that reason we have condemned the Hamas attack and the taking of hostages. Similarly, we condemn the sustained disproportionate response of Israel in the Gaza strip, on the West Bank and now in Lebanon, that has resulted in a staggering death toll and the massive destruction of infrastructure. The use of famine as a weapon of war must be condemned in the strongest terms. Pope Francis has described what is happening as “beyond morality” and Cardinal Parolin, Secretary of State of the Vatican, used the word “carnage”.

The retaliation by Iran indicates that there is now a descent into a regional war. Other regional wars, such as those in Sudan and Ukraine, are of deep concern and must not be forgotten. However, the conflict in the Middle East over the past year has laid bare many aspects that have global implications: the fact that Israel has nuclear weapons, the role of the United States and other countries that continue to enable the carnage, the unequal and arbitrary application of international law, the inability of the United Nations to ensure a peace process, the mass killing of innocent civilians as a way of war and the unwillingness to deal with fundamental causes of discontent that lead to violence, such as injustice and dispossession.

These all bode badly for future peace not only in the region but for the whole world. The situation is extraordinarily grave. Despite the efforts of many good and committed people who are striving for peace, humanity is in danger of spiralling into a primitive barbarism forgetting the lessons learnt from the spilling of blood of previous wars and the subsequent progress made in the defence of human rights. War is futile and will not bring about peace; it is a shame on all humanity.

We request all parish communities, as well as all Catholics in their families and individually, to fervently pray for peace and to use all peaceful means to affirm our commitment to protect and enhance human dignity. Remembering that the 7″ October is the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, we turn particularly to Mary, Queen of Peace, by praying the rosary and seeking her intercession.

+Stephen Brislin Archbishop of Cape Town October 2024