Pope Leo XIV has reiterated his call for a ceasefire in Gaza following an Israeli strike that resulted in the deaths of three individuals sheltering within the Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza City.
A Vatican telegram conveyed the Pope’s profound sadness upon learning of the “loss of life and injury caused by the military attack” on the church.
The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, which oversees the church, reported that it was “struck by the Israeli army.” Nine others sustained injuries, with one individual in critical condition. The parish priest suffered minor injuries.
Israel’s foreign ministry stated its regret for any harm to a religious site or uninvolved civilians, adding that the Israeli military is reviewing the incident.
Many displaced families from Gaza’s small Christian community have sought refuge in the church compound since the start of the conflict, following the destruction of their homes.
Prior to his passing, the late Pope Francis reportedly contacted them on a near-daily basis.
Video and photographic evidence shared with the BBC showed damage to the roof of the Holy Family Church, near the cross, as well as broken windows.
Television footage depicted the Argentine parish priest, Father Gabriele Romanelli, assisting a man on a stretcher at the Al-Ahli hospital in Gaza City.
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, told Vatican News that the Holy Family Church was struck by a tank shell.
“What we know for sure is that a tank, the IDF [Israel Defense Forces] says by mistake, but we are not sure about this. They hit the church directly,” he stated.
The charity Caritas Jerusalem reported that the shell impacted the church roof, “scattering shrapnel and debris across the yard.”
“At the time, some individuals were outside the main building, including two elderly women who were sitting inside our Caritas psychosocial support tent. Both were severely wounded and were transported by ambulance to Al-Ahli Hospital after a 15-minute delay,” the organization said.
“Three young people who had been standing at the entrance of the church were also badly injured and were rushed to the hospital using private vehicles.”
Subsequently, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem announced that “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.”
Caritas Jerusalem identified two of the deceased as Saad Salameh, the 60-year-old parish janitor, and Fumayya Ayyad, an 84-year-old woman.
The Vatican’s secretary of state sent a telegram to the victims, stating that Pope Leo was deeply saddened by the loss of life and had assured Father Romanelli “and the whole parish community of his spiritual closeness.”
“His holiness renews his call for an immediate ceasefire, and he expresses his profound hope for dialogue, reconciliation and enduring peace in the region,” the telegram added.
Israel’s foreign ministry expressed “deep sorrow over the damage to the Holy Family Church in Gaza City and over any civilian casualty.”
“The IDF is examining this incident, the circumstances of which are still unclear, and the results of the investigation will be published transparently,” a statement read.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni placed blame on Israel, stating, “The attacks against the civilian population that Israel has been carrying out for months are unacceptable.”
“No military action can justify such an attitude,” she added.
The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in Jerusalem also condemned the strike, calling it a “flagrant violation of human dignity and a blatant violation of the sanctity of life and the sanctity of religious sites, which are supposed to provide a safe haven in times of war.”
The Patriarchate estimated that 600 displaced people were sheltering inside at the time, the majority of whom were children, as well as 54 people with special needs.
The Holy Family Church is located within an area of Gaza City that the Israeli military had previously instructed locals to evacuate.
Caritas Jerusalem stated that Father Romanelli had urged people to remain indoors “due to the presence of Israeli tanks near the church compound and continuous strikes in close proximity.”
“If Father Gabriel hadn’t warned us to stay indoors, we could have lost 50 to 60 people today. It would have been a massacre,” a Caritas staff member said.
Reports indicate that more than 20 people were killed by Israeli attacks in Gaza on Thursday.
In the north, medical sources said eight men protecting aid lorries and a couple and their five children were among those killed.
Israel initiated its military operation in Gaza in response to the Hamas-led attacks of October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and the abduction of 251 others.
According to the Hamas-run health ministry, Israeli attacks have since killed more than 58,500 people in Gaza. The ministry’s figures are cited by the UN and other organizations as the most reliable source of casualty statistics.
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