Israel Bombs Gaza's Only Catholic Church, Killing At Least 3 And Wounding Parish Priest
HuffPost
Hundreds of Christian and Muslim Palestinians have been sheltering at the Holy Family Catholic Church, whose priest was close with the late Pope Francis.
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — An Israeli shell slammed into the compound of the only Catholic church in the Gaza Strip on Thursday, killing three people and wounding 10 others, including the parish priest, according to church officials. The late Pope Francis, who died in April, had regularly spoken to the priest about the situation in the war-ravaged territory.
The shelling of the Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza also damaged the church compound, where hundreds of Palestinians have been sheltering from the 21-month Israel-Hamas war. Israel issued a rare apology and said it was investigating.
Pope Leo XIV on Thursday renewed his call for an immediate ceasefire in response to the attack.
In a telegram of condolences for the victims, Leo expressed “his profound hope for dialogue, reconciliation and enduring peace in the region.” The pope said he was “deeply saddened to learn of the loss of life and injury caused by the military attack,″ and expressed his closeness to the Rev. Gabriel Romanelli and the entire parish.
Hundreds of people sheltered at the church
