Pope Leo XIV, the spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic Church, renewed his appeal for an immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza conflict following the apparent Israeli strike that severely damaged the only Catholic church in Gaza. The strike, which occurred on Thursday, resulted in the deaths of two individuals and left several others, including the parish priest, Father Gabriele Romanelli, injured. The incident has intensified global calls for an end to the violence, with the papacy expressing deep sorrow over the loss of life and the damage to a sacred place.
According to a statement released by the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV expressed his profound grief and reaffirmed his call for an immediate ceasefire. The message was delivered through Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, who emphasized the pope’s hope for dialogue, reconciliation, and long-term peace in the region. The attack on the Holy Family Catholic Church has sparked a wave of international condemnation, with world leaders and religious institutions condemning the incident as a tragic loss of innocent lives and a violation of the sanctity of a religious site.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, responding to the incident, stated in a press release that