Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu called Pope Leo today after Israel’s deadly strike on the Holy Family Compound, the only Catholic Church in Gaza.
Three people were killed in the attack, including the parish priest Father Gabriel Romanelli. At least 10 people were injured. Over 600 elderly people, women and children were taking shelter in the church, including 50 people with disabilities and sick children who were being cared for by the Sisters of Charity.
Pope Leo had telephoned Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, telling him, “It is time to stop this slaughter,” 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.
“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.”
After that the Holy Father telephoned Father Carlos Ferrero, the provincial superior of the Institute of the Incarnate Word — the religious order Father Romanelli belongs to.
When Prime Minister Netanyahu called Pope Leo today, he said he regretted the attack on the church and said that “Israel is investigating the incident and remains committed to protecting civilians and holy sites.” In a post on X, Netanyahou “expressed Israel’s regret for the tragic incident in which stray ammunition accidentally struck The Holy Family Church in Gaza.”
Israeli authorities, which strictly control access to the Gaza, granted access to Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Catholic Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, and his Greek Orthodox counterpart, Theophilos III, to lead a delegation to the Holy Family Church.
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