Jerusalem cardinal says dialogue with Hamas 'unrealistic' after Vatican secretary of state pushes it

Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa said he thinks that calls for Israel to have a dialogue with Hamas are "unrealistic" after the Vatican's secretary of state called for it to be pursued "immediately." 

Pizzaballa, who made an emergency trip to return to Jerusalem after participating in the Vatican's Synod of Bishops, said: "Right now, to talk about ‘dialogue’ in this moment is something not realistic, not concrete or practical. We have to stop the violence, the war, and then see what we can do, after the ruins of this war are in front of us," The Daily Wire reported Saturday.

His comments come after Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's secretary of state, said last week that the Holy See would act as a mediator between Israel and Hamas. 

"A solution can be found in direct dialogue between Palestinians and Israelis, encouraged and supported by the international community, even though it will be more difficult now," he said.

When Pizzaballa was pressed about the letter from the secretary of state, he said: "You should ask Cardinal Parolin, as I did not write this."

The cardinal also called for the war to end.

"The thing we have to do is do our utmost to end the war, and on both sides. Maybe, somehow, countries outside Israel can put pressure on Hamas. Not us (the Catholic Church), as we don’t really have any sway on them, but to pressure Hamas (to surrender) and engage with the State of Israel to de-escalate the situation. We definitely must see a de-escalation of the situation for any hope of dialogue. That would include the return of all hostages," he said.

More than 1,300 Israelis, including women, children and the elderly, were killed in a Hamas terror attack last Saturday, marking the bloodiest day for Jews since the Holocaust.

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