Pope Leo XIV has expressed deep sorrow following an Israeli strike on the Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza City, which killed three civilians and injured nine others. The victims were among many displaced Christians sheltering in the church compound amid ongoing conflict in the region.
In a telegram sent through the Vatican’s secretary of state, the Pope conveyed his condolences and spiritual solidarity with the church community, particularly parish priest Father Gabriele Romanelli, who sustained minor injuries. “His Holiness renews his call for an immediate ceasefire,” the message stated, urging renewed efforts toward peace, dialogue, and reconciliation.
According to the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, the church was hit directly by an Israeli tank shell, causing significant damage. Two of the deceased were identified as 60-year-old parish janitor Saad Salameh and 84-year-old Fumayya Ayyad. Caritas Jerusalem reported that shrapnel and debris struck several individuals outside the main church building, including elderly women receiving psychosocial support.
Video and photos shared with the BBC showed damage near the church’s cross and shattered windows. Footage from Gaza’s Al-Ahli Hospital showed Father Romanelli tending to the wounded.
Israel’s foreign ministry issued a statement expressing “deep sorrow” over the damage and civilian casualties, while the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the incident was under review. The IDF had previously designated the area as one requiring evacuation due to ongoing military activity.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni criticized Israel’s conduct, describing its ongoing attacks on civilians as “unacceptable.” The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in Jerusalem also condemned the strike, calling it a “blatant violation of human dignity” and the sanctity of religious spaces.
At the time of the strike, around 600 people—mostly children and those with special needs—were sheltering in the compound. A Caritas staff member said Father Romanelli had warned residents to stay indoors moments before the attack, likely preventing a larger tragedy.
More than 20 people were reported killed in Israeli strikes across Gaza on the same day. In northern Gaza, casualties included aid workers and an entire family.
Israel’s military campaign began in response to the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led attacks that killed approximately 1,200 people and resulted in over 250 hostages. Since then, over 58,500 Palestinians have been killed, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, figures that are widely cited by the UN and humanitarian agencies.
Source: bbc
