Port Moresby: A press conference was held at the Catholic Bishops Conference of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands on July 11, 2024, highlighting the deadly war in the ‘Holy Land’ and to encourage the people of goodwill to remain steadfast in sharing sentiments with those who are affected.
From left to right: Mr Elias Bastoli, CBC General Secretary Fr Giorgio Licini PIME, Mr Costandi Bastoli, CBC President Bishop Otto Separy and Catholic Professionals Society President Mr Paul Harricknen.
The press conference saw Mr Costandi Bastoli, a Palestinian Christian and member of Palestinian Christians in Australia (PCiA) sharing his perspective and experience on the situation in the Holy Land.
The Holy Land has witnessed a prolonged humanitarian crisis of alarming proportions since October last year which has triggered a devastating deadly war and as the situation threatens to further escalate.
Mr Bastoli shared that the sources from hospitals back home in his homeland confirmed that over 180 000 were lost, infrastructure destroyed putting nearly most of the people in devastation and agony.
“We get calls every day from people back home that one of our family members is dead, injured or hurt…that is so painful for me to have to go through this in the past and even now”.
“As a Palestinian Christian, I feel like the world is not aware of our existence, we are forgotten and misunderstood”.
Mr Bastoli made a plea for the people to get to know the history of the crisis in order to at least have a better understanding of the true cause of such inhumane act.
He also said that the press conference was not only for awareness but a cry for help as well so that the people of goodwill may help alleviate the suffering of Palestinians and the Christian minority in the Holy Land.
“Donations can be made to help the people of Gaza through the Council of Churches…people can also join on my nightly zoom on prayer for peace from 8:30pm – 9:00pm”, said Bastoli.
“World leaders need to do more to stop the genocide, like starting to implement humanitarian laws and seek justice for the innocent lives lost”
Meanwhile President of the Catholic Professionals Society Mr Paul Harricknen in his remarks acknowledged Mr Bastoli’s presence and presentation on the topic at hand and encouraged Christians throughout the country to speak against the injustice happening in the country and around the world.
“It is good that Mr Bastoli is here to share his personal experience of the conflict and as Christians, we need to speak up. PNG cannot claim to be a Christian country while Christians around the world are dying without us knowing”.
Mr. Bastoli was born in Jerusalem and lived nearly half of his life there before migrating to Australia in November 1969.
In 1972 Costandi joined the Catholic Charismatic Renewal movement and served as a coordinator in Sydney. In 1979, Costandi became a founding member of the original Disciples of Jesus Covenant Community. Mr Bastoli has vast experience as a layman in Christian teaching, preaching and the healing ministry for over 40 years. His ministry has stretched across Australia, Papua New Guinea and the Philippines.
Recently, he was doing pastoral work with the charismatic movement in the archdiocese of Mt. Hagen.
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