Pope Renews Gaza Ceasefire Appeal After Zionist Strike on Catholic Church
VATICAN – Pope Leo XIV on Thursday reiterated his urgent call for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and expressed deep sorrow over an Zionist strike that damaged the Holy Family Church, the only Catholic church in Gaza. The parish had been sheltering over 500 civilians since the start of the war in October 2023.
The pontiff’s appeal was conveyed in a telegram signed by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, in which the pope voiced his “profound hope” for “dialogue, reconciliation and lasting peace in the region.” He also offered spiritual support to the wounded parish priest, Father Gabriel Romanelli, and extended prayers for all victims and their families.
The Zionist forces have bombed multiple houses of worship during its offensive on Gaza, including the Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Porphyrius and the Gaza Baptist Church. Since the beginning of the war, nearly 58,600 Palestinians—mostly women and children—have been killed. The Zionist entity continues to reject calls for a ceasefire despite mounting international legal pressure, including arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court for Zionist officilas and a genocide case at the International Court of Justice.
