Archbishop Timothy Cardinal Dolan | Archdiocese of New York

These should be days of rejoicing as the Jewish community celebrates the beginning of a new year, but we know that there is a somber atmosphere as we mark the one-year anniversary of the evil, heinous terrorist attack against Israel last year on October 7th. Our hearts continue to break for those whose lives were lost that terrible day, and for the innocent hostages held in captivity in Gaza.

In the year that has followed, we know that many more innocent people have been caught in the grips of war, and we mourn every life lost, of Israelis and Palestinians, of Jews, Christians, Muslims, and others. As Pope Francis so eloquently reminds us, religion can be used to legitimize violence—never! As Christians, and together with people of all faiths, we employ that most powerful tool that we have to pray for peace in that land called “holy.”