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Cardinal Fernando Filoni, who was formerly deputy Vatican secretary of state, third in rank to the Pope at the time, called on EU leaders to have a better understanding of the situation in the Holy Land, which is sacred to three faiths: Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
He appealed to Irish and European leaders not to pit one side against the other and not to neglect Christians living in the Middle East.
“That is horrible,” he said, adding that it would never lead to peace.
“We have to move towards thinking of no one as against the other, but rather towards an understanding between all,” he said.
The cardinal is currently grand master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, an ancient chivalric order that supports the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, which assists Christians in the Holy Land.
Members of this Catholic order of knights and dames contribute over €16m annually towards the upkeep of 40 schools educating 20,000 children in places like Gaza and the West Bank, and providing humanitarian and social care. Irish members contribute €350,000 annually.
Cardinal Filoni visited Ireland this weekend for the investiture of new knights at a mass in St Patrick’s College, Maynooth, Co Kildare, concelebrated with a number of Irish bishops.
“Peace must be built and we must promote a better understanding among all the people of the Holy Land,” he said.
The Vatican diplomat said that currently it is difficult for anyone in the region who does not “think as an extremist” to live there. “They hate each other. They fight each other,” he said.
But he said the only way forward was for everyone to see themselves and their brothers and sisters “as part of this land. It is a way of thinking, which for now, is not there”.
The Italian prelate pointed out that when Jordan (1994) and Egypt (1979) made peace agreements with Israel, their situations improved.
“This is the way: an agreement between all. Leave the past to the past, the injustices to the past. If we carry these injustices, there is no future for anyone,” Cardinal Filoni said.
After the ceremony, he expressed concern for the plight of Christians caught in the conflict.
“As Christians we are in the middle. We don’t want land. We want just to stay in peace and we would like to show others this is the only way,” he said.
“Many Muslims have told me Christians are the moderate party. But some politicians just want to send away all those who are ‘other’.”
For Christians in places like Gaza and the West Bank, Cardinal Filoni said, “it is very difficult”.
“They don’t see a future for their families when they have no money, no jobs and when they are thought of as belonging to the enemy faction.”
“Mindsets have to change,” he said, “and we have to do something about those who have power”.