Pope Leo XIV Mourns Gaza Church Attack, Calls for Immediate End to “Barbarity of War”

Pope Leo XIV has expressed profound sorrow over a deadly Israeli strike on the Catholic Parish of the Holy Family in Gaza City, calling for an immediate end to the war’s barbarity and a renewed global commitment to peace.

Speaking after the Angelus prayer at his summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, the Holy Father condemned the attack, which occurred on Thursday morning (July 17) and left three Christian civilians dead and several others wounded, including Fr. Gabriel Romanelli, the parish priest of Gaza’s only Catholic church.

“I express my profound sadness regarding the attack by the Israeli army on the Catholic Parish of the Holy Family,” Pope Leo said. “I pray for the victims Saad Issa Kostandi Salameh, Foumia Issa Latif Ayyad, and Najwa Ibrahim Latif Abu Daoud and I am particularly close to their families and all the parishioners.”

The Holy Family Parish had been sheltering around 600 displaced Gazans when it was struck. Fr. Romanelli, a devoted Argentinian priest long committed to accompanying Gaza’s small Christian community, was injured in the blast.

He is widely remembered for receiving daily phone calls from Pope Francis throughout the first months of the war a gesture of solidarity that underscored the Vatican’s pastoral closeness to the people of Gaza.

Pope Leo called the strike “one of the continuous military attacks against the civilian population and places of worship in Gaza,” and decried the targeting of non-combatants and sacred spaces as a tragic violation of human dignity.

“I again call for an immediate halt to the barbarism of the war and for a peaceful resolution of the conflict,” he declared, urging the international community to uphold humanitarian law, ensure the protection of civilians, and end the use of collective punishment, indiscriminate force, and forced displacement.

Turning his attention to Christians in the Middle East, the Pope offered a heartfelt message of solidarity: “You are in the heart of the Pope and of the whole Church. Thank you for your witness of faith,” he said, invoking Mary, the Woman of the Levant, as a sign of hope and protector of all who suffer.

Earlier that day, Pope Leo had celebrated Mass in the nearby town of Albano. Afterward, he encouraged Catholics worldwide to join the “Prayer Marathon for Leaders,” promoted by the International Forum of Catholic Action.

The initiative invited believers to pause and pray for one minute between 10:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., asking God to enlighten global leaders and inspire them with visions for peace.

“The world can’t take it anymore,” the Pope warned. “There is so much conflict, so many wars.” He pleaded with all parties to return to the table for dialogue and lay down their weapons.

On Friday, Pope Leo also held a private phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during which he emphasized the urgent need for a ceasefire and expressed anguish over the “agonizing price” being paid by civilians in Gaza.

As the humanitarian crisis deepens, the Holy Father’s words stand as a prophetic call for mercy, justice, and peace, echoing the Church’s unwavering commitment to defend life and dignity amid war and suffering.

“Let us not grow weary of praying and working for peace,” Pope Leo said. “Because even in the darkness, the light of Christ still shines.”