VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu telephoned Pope Leo XIV, who urged Israel's leader to revive negotiations and enact a ceasefire.

The morning call to the pope's summer residence at Castel Gandolfo July 18 came the day after the Israeli army struck the Holy Family Church compound, the only Catholic Church in the Gaza Strip. At least three people were killed and 10 more were injured from the shelling and falling debris, including the parish priest, Father Gabriel Romanelli.

"During the conversation, the Holy Father renewed his call for renewed momentum for negotiation efforts and for a ceasefire and an end to the war," the Vatican press office said in a communique.

"He again expressed his concern for the tragic humanitarian situation of the people in Gaza, a heartbreaking price being paid especially by children, the elderly and the sick," it said. 

"Finally, the Holy Father reiterated the urgency of protecting places of worship and especially the faithful and all people in Palestine and Israel," the communique said.

The pope had called for an immediate ceasefire, dialogue and peace in the region in a telegram July 16.

About 600 men, women and children had been sheltering at the church, including about 50 people with disabilities and ill children cared for by the Missionaries of Charity, when the early morning raid hit the church.

Pope Leo also telephoned Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, July 18, telling him, "It is time to stop this slaughter," Vatican News reported.

Cardinal Pizzaballa and Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem were leading a delegation into Gaza to bring hundreds of tons of humanitarian aid into the enclave.

As they were crossing the border, Pope Leo telephoned the cardinal to "express his closeness, love, prayer, support and desire to do everything possible for there to be not only a ceasefire but also an end to this tragedy," the cardinal told Vatican News.

"Pope Leo said repeatedly that it is time to stop this slaughter, and that what has happened is unjustifiable, and that we must ensure there are no more victims," he said. 

The Vatican press office said the pope also told the cardinal that he intends to do "everything possible to stop the needless slaughter of innocents."

"With the patriarch (Cardinal Pizzaballa), the pope turned his thoughts to all the innocent victims, those of yesterday's attack and all those of this time of sorrow in the Holy Land and throughout the Middle East," the press office said in a brief statement.

The pope also asked the cardinal about those who had been injured in the attack and their condition, it said.

Pope Leo then telephoned Father Carlos Ferrero, the provincial superior of the Institute of the Incarnate Word -- the religious order Father Romanelli belongs to -- to express "his closeness to those in the community -- faithful and religious -- who were with him."

The pope "assures everyone of his prayers and unceasing commitment to peace, the only way that protects humanity on all sides," it said.

Everyone in Gaza "will not be forgotten, nor will they be abandoned," the patriarchate said in a written statement July 18. 

"In the aftermath of the grievous strike on the Holy Family Church compound in Gaza," Cardinal Pizzaballa and Beatitude Theophilos entered Gaza as part of a church delegation, "expressing the shared pastoral solicitude of the churches of the Holy Land and their concern for the community of Gaza," it said.

"At the request of the Latin patriarchate, and in coordination with humanitarian partners, access was secured for the delivery of essential assistance not only to the Christian community but also to as many families as possible," it said.

"This includes hundreds of tons of food supplies as well as first aid kits and urgently needed medical equipment. In addition, the patriarchate ensured the evacuation of individuals injured in the attack to medical institutions outside Gaza where they will receive care," it added.

"During their stay, the delegation will meet with members of the local Christian community, offer condolences and solidarity, and stand alongside those affected by the recent events," the statement said. The cardinal "will personally assess the humanitarian and pastoral needs of the community, to help guide the church's continued presence and response."

"We thank His Holiness Pope Leo XIV who called Cardinal Pizzaballa and Patriarch Theophilos upon entrance to Gaza to offer his support, closeness and prayers," the patriarchate said.

"We pray for the safety of the delegation and the suspension of military activities during the visit," it added.

"The Latin Patriarchate remains steadfast in its commitment to the Christian community and the entire population of Gaza. They will not be forgotten, nor will they be abandoned."
 

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VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- After an early morning attack on the Holy Family Church in Gaza, Pope Leo XIV called for an immediate ceasefire, dialogue and peace in the region.

With Israeli tanks shelling multiple targets in Gaza, witnesses claimed the strike July 17 came from Israeli artillery shells. The Israeli military said in a statement it was aware of the reports of damage and casualties at the church, and that "the circumstances of the incident are under review."

More than 500 men, women and children had been sheltering at the church, including about 50 people with disabilities and ill children cared for by the Missionaries of Charity. It is the only Catholic church in the Gaza Strip.

The early morning raid on the church left three people dead and nine injured, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem told ANSA, the Italian news agency.

Among the wounded were those who were seriously injured, those in stable condition and some with light injuries, the patriarchate said.

Among those hurt was the parish priest, Father Gabriel Romanelli, an Argentine of Italian descent whom Pope Francis would call regularly. News photos show the priest sitting with a white bandage wrapped around his right calf at the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City.

A telegram sent by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, on behalf of the pope, stated, "His Holiness Pope Leo XIV was deeply saddened to learn of the loss of life and injury caused by the military attack on the Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza, and he assures the parish priest, Father Gabriele Romanelli, and the whole parish community of his spiritual closeness."

"In commending the souls of the deceased to the loving mercy of Almighty God, the Holy Father prays for the consolation of those who grieve and for the recovery of the injured," the cardinal wrote.

"His Holiness renews his call for an immediate ceasefire, and he expresses his profound hope for dialogue, reconciliation and enduring peace in the region," he wrote. 

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, told Vatican News, "We still have partial information, because communication with Gaza is not very easy, especially today."

He confirmed that several were wounded, some seriously. "They say it was a mistake by an Israeli tank, but we don't know. It hit the church, directly at the church," he said.

Speaking to Vatican News July 12, Father Romanelli said almost everyone in the area beyond the church compound had left. "All around us, there is only death and destruction."

"Day and night, we are accompanied by the sound of bombs falling even a few hundred meters from the parish. It is absurd, but now, after 21 months, these horrendous sounds of explosions have become an ordinary part of daily life," he had said.

The Israeli Defense Forces' offensive in the Gaza Strip came after the Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attacks by Hamas and other jihadist groups operating from the territory.

Speaking to Aid to the Church in Need in mid-July, Father Romanelli underlined that the situation in Gaza was "very, very serious."

"Another day of war -- another hour of war -- continues to complicate the lives of tens and hundreds of thousands of people," he said, urging the world's faithful to pray and support those affected.

"We ask you to continue helping us -- to pray a lot, and to encourage others to pray," he said. "To seek peace and justice by all means, and also to lend a hand to these poor people."

Father Romanelli told Vatican News July 12 that there had been a little more than 1,000 Christians in Gaza before the Oct. 7 attack. About 300 managed to get out of the strip when the Rafah crossing with Egypt was still open, he said.

At least 16 Christians were killed in a raid that hit the Orthodox Patriarchate's St. Porphyry Church in October 2023, Aid to the Church in Need said. An elderly Christian was killed in November 2023, and a month later, a mother and daughter were killed just outside the church when an IDF sniper fired on the grounds of the Holy Family Church.