Pope Leo XIV urges the immediate ceasefire after the strike of Gaza Catholic Church

Pope Leo XIV expressed his sadness and called for a cease-fire after the only Catholic church in Gaza was affected in an apparent Israeli strike, leaving at least two dead and several wounded.

“His holiness Pope Leo XIV was deeply saddened to learn the loss of life and wounds caused by the military attack of the Catholic Church of the Holy Family in Gaza, and he assures the parish priest, Father Gabriele Romanelli, and the whole parish community of his spiritual proximity”, read a telegriel conceived by the Cardinal Secretary of the Pietro State Behalf of the Pope.

Parolin added that the Pope “renews his call to an immediate ceasefire, and he expresses his deep hope of dialogue, reconciliation and lasting peace in the region”.

A view of damage to the Church of the Holy Family of Gaza City following an Israeli strike on the church of the Zeitoun district of Gaza City on July 17, 2025. (Omar al-Qattaa / AFP via Getty Images)

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Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also condemned the attack and criticized Israel.

“The Israeli Raids on Gaza also struck the Church of the Holy Family. The attacks on the civilian population that Israel has been putting for months is unacceptable. No military action can justify such an attitude,” said Meloni.

Israeli defense forces (FDI) said that it was “aware of the reports of damage” to the church and that “the circumstances of the incident were being examined”.

“The FDIs do not target religious institutions and takes many precautions to avoid damage to civilians or holy sites. We remain determined to protect freedom of religion for people of all confessions,” wrote the international spokesperson for the IDF. Lieutenant-Colonel Nadav Shoshani wrote in an article on X.

Archbishop Alexios uses a Thouble because mourning people attend the funeral of Palestinian Christians who were killed in an Israeli strike on the Church of the Holy Family, according to doctors, at the Greek Orthodox church Saint Porphyrius, in Gaza City, on July 17, 2025. (Reuters / Dawoud Abu Alkas)

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The Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman, Oren Marmorstein, has echoed a similar message, saying that the country “expresses deep sadness” on damage to church and loss of life. He added that “Israel never targets churches or religious sites and regrets any prejudice to a religious site and to undefined civilians”.

The Latin Jerusalem Latin patriarchy said Thursday that the parish priest of the community, Father Gabriel Romanelli, suffered light lesions “in the apparent strike.

A woman looks at that the mourning people attend the funeral of Palestinian Christians who were killed in an Israeli strike at the Church of the Sainte-Famille, according to the doctors, at the Greek Orthodox church Saint Porphyrius, in Gaza City, on July 17, 2025. (Reuters / Dawoud Abu Alkas)

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“The people of the holy family are people who have found a sanctuary in the church – knowing that war horrors could at least spare their lives, after all their house, property and dignity had already been eliminated. Jerusalem said in a statement.

The Latin patriarchy added that it “strongly condemns” the incident “and this targeting of innocent civilians and a sacred place”.