Sébastien Le Belzic (special correspondent in Jerusalem) / Photo credit: ERIC BERACASSAT / HANS LUCAS / HANS LUCAS VIA AFP
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7:10 a.m., October 23, 2023
Jerusalem, where three monotheistic religions coexist, has been under tension for two weeks and the Hamas terrorist attack carried out on Israeli territory. Tourists and pilgrims have deserted the holy places, starting with the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher where, every day, the Franciscan friars organize a procession for peace.
In the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre, which houses the tomb of Christ, prayers for peace resonate every evening at nightfall. In Jerusalem, where Judaism, Christianity and Islam coexist, the atmosphere is tense, a little more than two weeks after the bloody Hamas attack on Israeli territory.
“This place creates a link between Christians from all over the world”
Brother Stéphane lives in Jerusalem. For more than 30 years, he has been the superior of the monks of the Holy Sepulcher. “Here, we have always lived with others and the Church has always tried to be a bridge with the different communities, which it still does today. Therefore, a fortiori, we pray for peace between all these people who have difficulty living together, but who nevertheless live together on this earth,” he declares.
Since the start of the war, tourists and pilgrims have gradually deserted this city which has the largest concentration of holy places in the world. Anna has just arrived from Ukraine to escape another war. She takes refuge in the basilica to pray. “It’s so moving, because this place is the link between Christians all over the world. We pray, united, all together,” she said. Prayers also addressed to the 1,000 Christians who live in Gaza, under the bombs.