GAZA: the Pope thinks ‘it might be genocide’, orders probe

Alameen Templeton
Given the Pope’s questionable reputation for infallibility, it’s probably no surprise it’s taken him over 400 days to decide it might be worthwhile investigating whether or not whatever’s happening in the Holy Land, the birthplace of Jesus Christ (peace be unto him) is a genocide.
There’s over 43 000 dead after all and, with over 1.3billion devoted attendees at Easter mass and occasional Christmas services, the Pope doesn’t want to get this one wrong.
But, Palestinians stuck in the catastrophe aren’t holding their breaths. Popes, after all, have a sorry record when it comes to calling out genocide in the Holy Land.
Bloody Crusader legacy
Take Jerusalem, circa 1099CE, for instance. Crusaders under the direction of Pope Urban II massacred about 80 000 Muslim and Jewish defenders of the holy city at the end of the First Crusade.
The Catholic Church canonised Louis IX of France for his role in the crusades. And, let’s face it, the crusades were led by the popes, with Pope Urban !! being the pontiff who egged on the Jerusalem massacre/genocide/mowed lawn of 1099.
At last glance, King Louis was still up there on the church’s honour roll of saints, so it seems it’s still going to be a while before the church calls out Jerusalem circa 1099 as a genocide.
Quo Vadis 2024?
Should we really care what the Pope thinks? Figures project Muslim worshippers at masaajid in Britain will outstrip the dwindling numbers of Christians attending Sunday church services regularly by 2049, according to the lausanneworldpulse.com website.
In terms of talk show host popularity ratings, it would seem the Pope and the entire Catholic Church is on a distinct, downward trend.
But, the Pope still pulls large crowds when he visits some countries, so there is that.
He’s visited by national leaders and the Catholic Church is still one of the largest property owners in the world. Property ownership was seen as a measure for eligibility for voting in Europe in previous centuries. By that measure, Pope Francis’s views could carry some weight.
And the USA and European countries that are insisting “Israel has the right to defend itself” while sending it all the armaments it needs to “get the job done” constitute what could be considered the rump of the current pope’s support base, his power foundation. So, it seems the pope may have some influence in a crucial market focus.
The home of genocide
And we Muslims feel a need to point out that Europe was after all the source of all previous crusades, which the entire continent and all the intervening popes still haven’t got around to classifying as genocidal. If football fans’ costumes can to be considered a litmus test of public opinion, it would seem the crusades are still viewed favourably, given the profusion of the red cross symbol at European soccer stadia.
So, it’s nice to know that after more than 400 days of relentless murder in Gaza, the pope has decided to take a closer look.
The Washington Post reported this week: “Pope Francis has called for an investigation to determine if Israel’s attacks in Gaza constitute genocide, according to excerpts released Sunday from an upcoming new book ahead of the pontiff’s jubilee year.
“It’s the first time that Francis has openly urged for an investigation of genocide allegations over Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip. In September, he said Israel’s attacks in Gaza and Lebanon have been ‘immoral’ and disproportionate, and that its military has gone beyond the rules of war.”
Back in the mix
He unleashed a firestorm of protest in November last year when he met families of Israeli hostages held by Hamas as well as with Palestinians living in Gaza and just mentioned the word “genocide”. The pope went a bit quiet on the issue after that.
But, he’s sprung to life again. Ahead of Sunday’s announcement, Pope Francis met again with families of hostages, probably as a bid to head off predictable Israeli protests that will follow his genocide-probe decision.
Still, better late than never. It has been a very long 400-plus days.
“According to some experts, what is happening in Gaza has the characteristics of a genocide,” the pope said in excerpts published Sunday by the Italian daily La Stampa.
“We should investigate carefully to determine whether it fits into the technical definition formulated by jurists and international bodies,” he added.
Places of worship destroyed
At the last count, at least half the 1 000 or so Christians in Gaza had fled the enclave, leaving tiny knots of Christians scattered across the strip.
Wikipedia says at least 1 000 masaajid have been destroyed in Gaza while churches have not escaped unscathed. The Church of Saint Prophyrius, the Byzantine Church of Jabalia, the St Hilarion Monastery and the Holy Family Church have all come under Israeli attack since October 7 last year.
The Holy Family Church is, however, the only Catholic church in Gaza.
The murder in Gaza has triggered several legal cases at international courts in The Hague involving requests for arrest warrants as well as accusations and denials of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.