Pope Leo Urges Gaza Ceasefire After Church Attack
(MENAFN) Pope Leo XIV reiterated his plea for “an immediate ceasefire” in the Gaza Strip on Thursday and conveyed his “profound hope” for “dialogue, reconciliation and lasting peace in the region.”
His appeal followed an Israeli strike on a Catholic church that was sheltering civilians during the ongoing conflict.
The statement was delivered through a telegram signed by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican Secretary of State, after the Church of the Holy Family in Gaza was struck amid an Israeli military operation.
The pope expressed that he was “deeply saddened” by the attack on the parish, which has served as a haven for over 500 displaced individuals since the outbreak of hostilities.
Among those hurt in the incident was the parish priest, Father Gabriel Romanelli, who received a minor leg injury and was treated at Al-Ahli hospital located in Gaza City.
Pope Leo XIV addressed Father Romanelli directly in the message, assuring him of his “spiritual closeness” and extending prayers to the entire congregation.
“Entrusting the souls of the deceased to the loving mercy of Almighty God,” the pontiff stated he is praying “for the consolation of those who mourn and for the healing of the wounded.”
During its ongoing campaign in Gaza, the Israeli military has struck multiple houses of worship, including the Gaza Baptist Church and the Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Porphyrius — known as the oldest in Gaza and one of the oldest globally.
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