
VATICAN (CNS): “Tragic news continues to arrive these days from the Middle East, especially from Gaza,” Pope Leo XIV said after reciting the Angelus with those gathered outside the papal palace in Castel Gandolfo on July 20.
The “barbarity of war” and forced displacement of people have to end, and civilians and places of worship have to be protected, Pope Leo implored, as he expressed his “profound sorrow for the Israeli army’s attack on the Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza City” on July 17, which killed three Christians and seriously wounded others.
“I pray for the victims: Saad Issa Kostandi Salameh, Foumia Issa Latif Ayyad and Najwa Ibrahim Latif Abu Daoud, and I am particularly close to their families and to all the parishioners,” the pope said.
“I again call for an immediate end to the barbarity of the war and for a peaceful resolution of the conflict,” the pope said.
Tragic news continues to arrive these days from the Middle East, especially from Gaza,
Pope Leo
“I renew my appeal to the international community to observe humanitarian law and to respect the obligation to protect civilians, as well as the prohibition of collective punishment, the indiscriminate use of force and the forced displacement of the population,” he said.
“Sadly, this act adds to the continuous military attacks against the civilian population and places of worship in Gaza,” Pope Leo said.
Before praying the Angelus, the pope spoke to reporters waiting near the entrance to the papal villa after he celebrated Mass in nearby Albano Laziale.
They asked him about the Middle East conflicts, particularly in Gaza, and he said there is a need for parties to “go to the table to dialogue and to put down their weapons because the world can’t take it anymore.”
The pope said, “There are so many conflicts, so many wars; there is a need to really work for peace, to pray with trust in God, but to also work” toward those efforts.
Sadly, this act adds to the continuous military attacks against the civilian population and places of worship in Gaza
Pope Leo
Asked about his telephone call with Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, on July 18, the day after the raid, the pope said, “We insisted on the need to protect the holy places of all religions,” and to work together in this regard.
But he added, there is a need for “true respect for people, for sacred places and to try to leave behind so much violence, so much hatred, so many wars.”
After the Angelus, the pope addressed all of “our beloved Middle Eastern Christians.”
He said, “I deeply sympathise with your feeling that you can do little in the face of this serious situation. You are in the heart of the pope and of the whole Church. Thank you for your witness of faith.”
He prayed Our Lady intercede to “protect you always and accompany the world towards the dawn of peace.”
Father Gabriel Romanelli, the parish priest of the Holy Family Church, was injured in the leg during the Israeli military strike on July 17. He told L’Osservatore Romano that what happened in the parish was “terrible” and that “the situation continues to be very serious.”
…let’s try to convince the whole world to end this war,
Father Romanelli
He asked the universal Church community for prayers: “let’s try to convince the whole world to end this war,” he said.
The shrapnel that hit the church damaged part of the roof, barely missing the iconic cross.
“That cross you see is nearly two metres tall, so it’s large, and the shrapnel, not only the shrapnel, but also the rocks fell on two elderly women who were under the church in a tent, and they died,” Father Romaneli explained.
“The metal fragments injured many others. There were 15 wounded, three of whom have died. The doorman, Saad, died, along with the two elderly women,” parish pastor explained.
The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Pierbattista Cardinal Pizzaballa, accompanied by the Greek Orthodox Primate Theophilus III, entered Gaza on July 18, after more than a year, bringing message of closeness and solidarity to the Christians of Holy Family parish, AsiaNews reported.
They met with members of the local Christian community, offered condolences, and expressed solidarity to the victims and their families and also provided aid amid the huge needs.