Pope Leo XIV renewed calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza following an attack on the Holy Family Catholic Parish. The Pope expressed sorrow for the loss of life and injuries caused by the attack. The Pope conveyed spiritual closeness to the parish priest and community. The Pope renewed an appeal for peace, ceasefire, and dialogue in the region. Over 60,200 people have been reported killed in the Gaza war since October 7, 2023.
5 months ago
On July 17, 2025, Gaza's only Catholic church, Holy Family Parish, was struck by an Israeli military attack, resulting in three deaths and ten injuries, including the parish priest, Father Gabriel Romanelli 2 3 7 14 17 18. The deceased were identified as Saad Salameh (the parish caretaker), Fumayya Ayyad, and Najwa Abu Daoud, two elderly women who had been sheltering in a Caritas psychosocial support tent 2 3 7 16 25. The explosion scattered shrapnel and debris, damaging the church roof near its iconic cross 2 3 18 25.
More than 500 people, including children with disabilities and ill children cared for by the Missionaries of Charity, had been sheltering at the church compound since the war began in October 2023 3 16 17 24 25 27. A Caritas staff member noted that Father Romanelli's prior warnings for residents to stay indoors likely prevented a greater massacre 25 26. This incident marks the first time the church itself was directly targeted, though two women were killed by a sniper in the same courtyard over a year ago 24 31.
Following the attack, Pope Leo XIV immediately expressed deep sadness and called for an "immediate ceasefire, dialogue, reconciliation, and enduring peace in the region" 3 7 14 15 16 17 22. The Pope conveyed his spiritual closeness to Father Romanelli and the parish community, entrusting the souls of the deceased to God's mercy 3 7 14 16 17.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu telephoned Pope Leo XIV on July 18 to express Israel's regret for what he described as an "accidental" strike by "stray ammunition" 2 8 9 10 12 22 25 26 28 32. During this call, the Pope reiterated his appeals for renewed negotiations, a ceasefire, and an end to the war, emphasizing concern for Gaza's dramatic humanitarian situation, particularly affecting children, the elderly, and the sick 2 8 9 12 22 28 32. He also stressed the urgent need to protect places of worship and all people in Palestine and Israel 2 8 12 22 28 32.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas also called Pope Leo XIV to discuss the conflict, during which the Pope reiterated the need to fully respect international humanitarian law, protect civilians and sacred places, and prohibit indiscriminate force and forced population transfer 2.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's Secretary of State, acknowledged Netanyahu's call as a positive gesture but demanded "real results" from the promised investigation, stating that the war is "without limits" and has crossed "many boundaries" 2.
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, and Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III visited Gaza on July 18, offering support, prayers, and closeness to the affected community 2 5 6 11 19 20 27 29 30. Upon their entrance, Pope Leo XIV called Cardinal Pizzaballa, stating, "It is time to stop this slaughter, that what has happened is unjustifiable, and that we must ensure there are no more victims" 13 20 22 23 24 31.
The Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem issued a joint statement condemning the attack as a "crime" and a violation of international law, urging world leaders to enforce an immediate ceasefire and ensure the protection of religious and humanitarian sites 20 27. Cardinal Pizzaballa expressed doubt that the attack was accidental, noting the direct hit on the church and the prior evacuation order for the area that did not specifically exclude the church 3 16 25 33. He stated, "We will not leave," affirming the Church's commitment to serving the people of Gaza regardless of religion 5 20 27 29 33.
The delegation secured the delivery of hundreds of tons of food supplies, first aid kits, and medical equipment for both Christian and Muslim families, and arranged for the evacuation of injured individuals to medical institutions outside Gaza 13 20 22 27 29 30. Military activities were reportedly suspended during their visit 29.
What is the Church's role in just peace?
The Church's role in just peace is multifaceted, emphasizing that peace is not merely the absence of war but a dynamic enterprise built upon truth, justice, love, and freedom . This understanding has been consistently articulated in various Church documents and by different Popes.
The concept of peace in Catholic teaching is deeply rooted in the divine origin of humanity, society, and authority, which calls individuals, families, social groups, and states to live in relations of justice and solidarity . Peace is seen as "the tranquility of order," requiring the safeguarding of personal well-being, free communication, respect for dignity, and the practice of fraternity . It is an ongoing endeavor that must be ceaselessly built up, as the concrete demands of the common good are constantly changing .
The Encyclical Pacem in Terris by Saint John XXIII is a foundational document in the Church's reflection on peace and human dignity . It highlights four essential pillars for building lasting peace: truth, justice, love, and freedom . Pope Francis has reiterated that true peace and harmony cannot exist without working for a more just and integral society and overcoming selfish, individualistic, and group interests .
Justice is central to the Church's understanding of peace. Peace is rightly and appropriately called an "enterprise of justice" . Pope John Paul II stressed that peace is reached through "a complete and universal justice," noting that injustice, particularly when it attacks human rights, destroys the organic unity of the social order and affects international relations . Pope Paul VI further connected peace with development, stating that "if the new name for peace is development, who would not wish to labour for it with all his powers?" . To wage war on misery and struggle against injustice is to promote human and spiritual progress, which is essential for peace .
While justice is fundamental, peace also requires charity, which "goes beyond what justice can provide" . The Church emphasizes that peace cannot be achieved through force alone but must be built through patient diplomacy, active promotion of justice, solidarity, integral human development, and respect for the dignity of all people . Dialogue, listening, patience, respect for others, sincerity, and a readiness to revise one's opinion are crucial virtues in orienting international debate towards peace .
The Church calls all men and women to build peace by promoting and exercising justice with truth and love, and by contributing to integral human development through solidarity . Pacem in Terris was notably addressed not only to the Church but also to "all men of good will," inviting them to establish new methods of relationships in human society based on truth, justice, love, and freedom . Christians are specifically summoned to do in love what truth requires and to join all true peacemakers in pleading for and bringing about peace .
In essence, the Church's role in just peace is to provide a moral and theological framework that guides humanity towards a peace founded on divine principles and built through human effort. It consistently advocates for justice, solidarity, and charity as indispensable elements for achieving a lasting and authentic peace, urging individuals and nations to overcome self-interest and work collaboratively for the common good.