"Pope Francis and Jerusalem Catholic Patriarch Advocate for Hostage Exchange in Gaza"

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Patriarch of Jerusalem and Pope Francis' representative in the Holy Land, expressed his willingness to exchange himself for Israeli children held hostage by Hamas in Gaza. Pizzaballa made the statement during a video conference with journalists, emphasizing the importance of securing the release of the hostages to prevent further escalation. While he acknowledged the difficulty of engaging with Hamas directly, he affirmed his personal commitment to help. Pizzaballa also highlighted the dire situation in Gaza, with thousands of casualties and displaced individuals, including Christians seeking shelter in Church buildings.