Pope Leo XIV expresses grief and called for a cease -the fire after Gaza’s only Catholic Church was hit in an apparent Israeli strike, leaving at least two dead and several injured people behind. The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later said in a statement that “stray ammunition” hit the church.
“His holiness Pope Leo XIV was deeply sad to learn from the loss of life and injury caused by the military attack on 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 Secretary of the Secretary of Cardinal,” read a pieta pietra that was pietra, “read a pietoa pietra, a pietroe pietra,” read a pietoa. Pietro Pietro Pietro Pietro Pietro Pietro Pietro Pietro Pietro Pietro Pietro Pietro Pietro Pietro Pietro Pietro Pietro Pietro Pietro Pietro Pietro Pietro Pietro Pietro Pietro Pietro Pietro Pietro Pietro Pietro Pietro Pietro Pietro Pietro Pietro Pietro Pietro Pietro.
Parolin added that the pope “has his call for an immediate cessation -the fire, and he expresses his in -depth hope for dialogue, reconciliation and permanent peace in the region.”
A view of the damage to the Holy Family Church in Gaza City after an Israeli strike in the church in the Zeitoun district of Gaza City on July 17, 2025. (Omar al-Qattaa/AFP via Getty images)
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Witte Huis Pers Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Reporters on Thursday that President Donald Trump called Netanyahu. She added that Netanyahu had passed on Trump that the strike was “a mistake of the Israelis to hit that Catholic Church.”
The office of Netanyahu explained an explanation stating that “Israel deeply regrets that a stray ammunition has hit the Holy Family Church of Gaza. Every innocent life is a tragedy. We share the grief of the families and the believers.”
“We are grateful to Pope Leo for his comfort words. Israel is investigating the incident and continues to be committed to protecting citizens and holy places,” wrote the Netanyahu office.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also condemned the attack and closed Israel.
“Israeli raids at Gaza also hit the church of the Holy Family. The attacks on the civilian population that Israel has been carrying out for months are unacceptable. No military action can justify such an attitude,” said Meloni.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that “it was aware of reports about damage” to the church and that the “circumstances of the incident are being assessed”.
“The IDF does not focus on religious institutions and takes many precautions to prevent damage to citizens or holy locations. We continue to be committed to protecting the freedom of religion for people of all religions,” wrote IDF International spokesperson Lt. Colonel Nadav Shoshani in a post about X.
Archbishop Alexios uses a drain while groan attends the funeral of Palestinian Christians who were killed in an Israeli strike in the Holy Family Church, according to doctors, in the Greek -Orthodox Sint -Porphyrius -Church, in Gaza City, July 17, 2025. (Reuters/Dawoud Abu Alkas)
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Spokesperson Marmorstein of Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs echoed a similar message and said that the country expresses “deep sorrow” about the damage to the church and the loss of life. He added that “Israel never focuses on churches or religious sites and regrets some damage to a religious site and non -relatively citizens.”
The Latin patriarchate of Jerusalem said on Thursday that the parish priest of the community, Father Gabriel Romanelli, was “slightly injured” in the incident.
A woman watches while mourning attends the funeral of Palestinian Christians who were killed in an Israeli strike in the Holy Family Church, according to doctors, in the Greek -Orthodox Sint -Porphyrius -Church, in Gaza City, July 17, 2025. (Reuters/Dawoud Abu Alkas)
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“The people in the holy family compound are people who found in the church a sanctuary – hoping that the horrors of war might at least spare lives, after their homes, possessions, and dignity had already leg striped away, weedtes to be the presity of the presity of the presity of the presity of the presity of the presity of the presity of the presity of the presity of the presity of the presity of the presity of the presity of the presity of the presity of the presity of the presity of the presity of the presity of the presity of the presity of the presity of the presity of the presity of the presity of the presity of the presity of the presity of the presity of the presity of the presity of the preaches of the presity of the presity of the presity of the presity of the presity of the presity of the presity of the presity of the presity. Bereaved families, and from here, we sacrifice our prayers for the swift and full recovery of the wounded, “The Latin Patriarchhate of Jerusalem said in a statement.
The Latin patriarchate added that “the incident” strongly condemns “and this targeting of innocent civilians and of a holy place.”
