VATICAN (CNS): Pope Francis phoned the Holy Family parish—the only Catholic parish in Gaza—on the evening of October 15, Vatican News reported.
Huddled in a stairwell at the parish and school in Gaza, Rosary Sister Nabila Saleh, another sister and Father Youssef Asaad filmed themselves speaking to the pope and begging for his continued prayers. Sister Saleh said Father Asaad passed her the phone because he doesn’t speak Italian as well as she does.
After Hamas launched attacks on Israel October 7 and Israel responded by bombing targets in Gaza, “the Holy Father wanted to know how many people we are hosting in the parish facilities,” Sister Saleh told Vatican News. There are about 500 people, including “the sick, families, children, the disabled, people who have lost their homes and every belonging.”
Sister Saleh said, “It was a great blessing to be able to speak with him. He gave us courage and the support of prayer.”
They asked the pope to keep making appeals for peace, she said, and they told him they would offer their sufferings as a prayer for peace, for the needs of the Church and for the assembly of the Synod of Bishops.
“Our parishioners were very happy. They know that the pope is working for peace and for the good of the Christian community in Gaza,” she said.
“We want peace because war helps no one,” Sister Saleh said.
“We ask for justice, justice and peace,” she said. “The Palestinian people also have a right to live. We ask that they not punish the whole population because of a group of fanatics.”
The people sheltering at the parish and school and other Catholics staying nearby are helping one another as best they can, she explained, adding that local Catholics are showing great faith in God. “We are learning from them,” she added.
Mass is celebrated at Holy Family twice a day, she said, and the people are constantly praying the rosary.
