Pope Leo has said he is “deeply saddened” to learn of the loss of life and injury caused by an apparent Israeli strike on the Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza. The leader of the Catholic Church reiterated his call for an immediate ceasefire.
“I am deeply saddened to learn of the loss of life and injury caused by the military attack on the Holy Family Catholic Church in #Gaza,” Pope Leo said in a statement posted to X.
“I assure the parish community of my spiritual closeness. I commend the souls of the deceased to the loving mercy of Almighty God, and pray for their families and the injured. I renew my call for an immediate ceasefire. Only dialogue and reconciliation can ensure enduring peace!”
It is the only Catholic Church in Gaza, and the same one Pope Leo’s predecessor, Pope Francis, used to call nightly. Fr Gabriel Romanelli, who the former Pope would speak with often, was injured when the Church was struck by an IDF raid on Thursday.
Three people have been killed in the attack, with ten more injured in the Israeli strike, which is believed to have caused extensive damage to the church, according to the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, an ecclesiastical office for Catholics in the region.
In a statement, the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) said that the circumstances of the incident were under review, saying: “The IDF makes every feasible effort to mitigate harm to civilians and civilian structures, including religious sites, and regrets any damage caused to them.”
Israel’s foreign ministry issued an apology for the incident in a rare step.
“Israel expresses deep sorrow over the damage to the Holy Family Church in Gaza city and over any civilian casualty,” the ministry said.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni blamed Israel for the attack, writing on X: “Israeli raids on Gaza also hit the Holy Family Church.
“The attacks against the civilian population that Israel has been carrying out for months are unacceptable. No military action can justify such behaviour.”
In a statement the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said that the Church had become “a sanctuary” for people in the area whose “homes, possessions, and dignity had already been stripped away.”
It wrote in a statement: “This morning, at approximately 10:20 a.m., the Compound of the Holy Family in Gaza, belonging to the Latin Patriarchate, was struck by the Israeli army. As of this hour, three individuals lost their lives as a result of the injuries sustained and nine others were wounded, including one in critical condition and two in serious condition. The community’s parish priest, Father Gabriel Romanelli, sustained light injuries.
“The people in the Holy Family Compound are people who found in the Church a sanctuary—hoping that the horrors of war might at least spare their lives, after their homes, possessions, and dignity had already been stripped away. On behalf of the entire Church of the Holy Land, we extend our deepest condolences to the bereaved families, and from here, we offer our prayers for the swift and full recovery of the wounded.
“The Holy Father has conveyed his own heartfelt condolences, his solidarity with them, and his prayers on their behalf. The Latin Patriarchate strongly condemns this tragedy and this targeting of innocent civilians and of a sacred place. However, this tragedy is not greater or more terrible than the many others that have befallen Gaza. Many other innocent civilians have also been harmed, displaced and killed. Death, suffering and destruction are everywhere.
“The time has come for leaders to raise their voices and to do all what is necessary in order to stop this tragedy which is humanly and morally, unjustified.
“This horrific war must come to a complete end—so that we may commence the long work of restoring human dignity. We embrace all those in the compound and stand with them in this painful hour, as they bury members of the community. We express our gratitude to all those who are sharing their condolences and sympathy with the Patriarchate and the church.
“We will continue to stand by the side of the community of Gaza and do all that what is within our power to support them. May the souls of the victims rest in eternal peace and may the Lord grant you all His Peace.”