His Holiness Pope Leo XIV Calls His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa to Express Closeness After Gaza Parish Attack
His Holiness Pope Leo XIV has called His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa as the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem enters Gaza to visit the Holy Family Catholic Church after the Israeli strike that killed 3 people and injured several others taking refuge there.
By Devin Watkins
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, made a visit on Friday to the only Catholic parish in Gaza, along with His Beatitude Theophilos III, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem.
As they entered the enclave, Pope Leo XIV placed a call to Patriarch Pizzaballa to “express his closeness, care, prayer, support, and desire to do everything possible to achieve not only a ceasefire but also an end to this tragedy.”
“Pope Leo repeatedly stated that it is time to stop this slaughter, that what has happened is unjustifiable, and that we must ensure there are no more victims,” said the Patriarch, speaking to Vatican News.
Speaking on behalf of the Latin Patriarchate and all the Churches of the Holy Land, Patriarch Pizzaballa thanked the Pope for “his solidarity and the prayers he had already assured us of,” while expressing the gratitude of the entire Catholic community of Gaza.
Pope’s concern for situation in Gaza
A shell fired from an Israeli tank struck the Holy Family Church on Thursday, killing 3 people and wounding 10 others, including Fr. Gabriel Romanelli, the parish priest.
Since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023, the late Pope Francis spoke by phone nearly every day with Fr. Romanelli.
On Thursday, Pope Leo XIV sent a message to the parish in Gaza saying he is praying for the victims and everyone taking refuge in the church compound.
The Pope called for “an immediate ceasefire,” and expressed his “profound hope for dialogue, reconciliation, and enduring peace in the region.”
Ecumenical visit to Gaza
Patriarchs Pizzaballa and Theophilos III made their visit to the parish on Friday to “stand alongside those affected by recent events,” according to a statement from the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem…
This news was originally published on the Website of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. Please click here to read the full text.