God’s people Archbishop Mark Coleridge A Pastoral Statement on Gaza
19 Aug 2025
The love of God knows no favourites (cf Romans 2:11). The divine mercy, justice and peace are for everyone without exception. We see the suffering of the people of Gaza with the eye of God, as we do the torment of the Israeli people. We cry out to God for the end of violence, especially the use of hunger as a weapon of war, and for the release of hostages. We plead with God to do what seems to us impossible.
Pope Leo summons us to be advocates of peace and builders of bridges; and the Australian Bishops have endorsed the Holy Father’s call, urging prayer but also reflection on last year’s Social Justice Statement, Truth and Peace: A Gospel Word in a Violent World. So I urge the entire Archdiocese of Brisbane to join Pope Leo in praying ardently for peace in Gaza and imploring peace in the Holy Land.
We can also contribute practically by helping Caritas Australia to provide essential aid such as food, water and shelter to families in Gaza. You can donate here: tinyurl.com/CaritasgazaAppeal. Updated information about the efforts of the United Nations to bring a comprehensive and lasting peace in the region can be found here on the UN site.
May they “beat their swords into ploughshares, their swords into pruning-hooks”, so that “nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more” (Isaiah 2:4).
+Mark Coleridge
Apostolic Administrator
Catholic Justice and Peace Commission of Brisbane 
The Gaza crisis and the Australian Church
THANKS Archbishop Mark , we must stand with the sufferring and actively promote peace . I weep and Jesus weeps for the hundreds of thousands of innocent people dying or barely surviving due to the IDF latest criminal strategy . Prayers are important – but action also needed.