Franciscan says Christians must forgive after Nazareth incident

Published: 2006-03-07

JERUSALEM (CNS) -- The "custos" of the Holy Land said Christians must forgive the family that set off firecrackers inside the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth, Israel. "Nothing can justify what they did ... they are unfortunate individuals ... but what we need (is) to look forward, and we as Christians have to forgive," Franciscan Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa said in a brief news conference. "This hurts us, but we are not holding a grudge. As religious Christians we must deliver a message of peace." Father Pizzaballa, who is in charge of Christian sites in the Holy Land, spoke and issued a statement March 6 after a brief meeting with Haim and Violet Habibi and their 20-year-old daughter, Odelia, who were remanded into police custody March 3 while charges were brought against them. The Habibis hugged and kissed Father Pizzaballa and asked for his help -- and that of the pope -- in getting their three minor children back; their youngest was removed from their home the week of the basilica incident. The Habibis' lawyer said they had not expected things to end as they had.

Copyright (c) 2006 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .