Fr. Gabriel Romanelli, the parish priest of Holy Family Church in Gaza City, has been receiving daily phone calls from Pope Francis since October 7, 2023. The phone calls, occurring at 8 p.m. each day, primarily focus on the well-being of children and vulnerable individuals in Gaza. The war in Gaza has resulted in the deaths of at least 45 Christians, including 20 violent deaths. The Catholic parish in Gaza, with 135 members, serves as a crucial support system for thousands of displaced people, providing essential aid like food, water, and medical assistance. Romanelli emphasizes the urgent need for peace in the Zaytun neighborhood, where the parish is located.
11 days ago
Since October 7, 2023, Pope Francis has been calling Fr. Gabriel Romanelli, the pastor of Holy Family parish in Gaza, every day at 8 p.m. 1. These calls offer "immense strength" to Romanelli and his community amidst the ongoing conflict 1. The Pope typically inquires about the well-being of children and the most vulnerable 1.
The Holy Family parish in Gaza serves as an anchor for thousands of displaced people, providing food, water, and medical assistance 1. 2,200 people in the Zaytun neighborhood alone rely on the parish for essentials 1. The community has faced severe food shortages, with limited access to vegetables and fresh fruit for almost a year 1. Poor sanitation and limited access to medical care have led to a rise in illnesses 1.
Catholic priests in the West Bank face distinct challenges, including movement restrictions, economic hardship, and threats from Israeli settlers 1. Many parishioners have lost jobs due to Israeli military checkpoints 1. A pastor in Beit Jala noted that the halt in tourism has severely impacted the livelihoods of Christian residents 1. The priest added that people are struggling to afford food, medicine, and school fees, leading some to consider leaving the Holy Land 1.
Despite the overwhelming challenges, Fr. Romanelli and other priests strive to nurture the spiritual life of their parishioners 1. The Holy Family Parish hosts daily adoration, rosary, and Holy Mass, and makes a priest available for confession 1. Romanelli stated that his faith has been strengthened by the experience 1.
The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, supported by appeals to Catholic communities worldwide, provides aid to those in need 1. This includes food distribution, tuition assistance, and support for rent and medical expenses 1. The Patriarchate has also developed employment initiatives 1. However, resources are limited, and the needs are immense 1.
The Catholic Church recognizes the profound impact of war on vulnerable populations, emphasizing the need to protect human dignity, prevent conflicts, and promote peace .
The Church acknowledges the concept of just war theory, which permits the use of military force under certain rigorous conditions to defend the common good and protect innocent life from unjust aggression . However, it is increasingly difficult to meet these conditions given the nature of modern warfare . Pope Francis has stated that war can easily be chosen by invoking humanitarian, defensive, or precautionary excuses, and that the development of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons grants war an uncontrollable destructive power over innocent civilians . The potential risks of war, he argues, likely outweigh any supposed benefits, making it difficult to justify war using traditional criteria .
The Church has never accepted the deliberate killing of those not engaged in unjust aggression . Actions such as killing unarmed prisoners of war, indiscriminate bombing, using weapons of mass destruction, and targeting schools, hospitals, or residential areas are considered acts of terror, regardless of the cause . Modern wars increasingly blur the lines between military and civilian targets, leading to indiscriminate strikes on civilian populations . The Church insists on the importance of adhering to international humanitarian law, defending human dignity in warfare, and recognizing that civilian victims are not "collateral damage" but individuals with names and lives .
The Church consistently calls for peaceful resolution of conflicts through dialogue and negotiation . It regards war as a sign of failure to uphold human dignity . Pope John Paul II and Pope Paul VI have pleaded, "Never again war!" . The Church emphasizes the importance of preventing conflicts, resolving them peacefully, and promoting reconstruction and reconciliation . Faith should lead to reverence for every human being, and religious conviction should not be used to justify violence or war .
The Church raises moral concerns about the use of military force, especially preventive measures, and insists on ethical limits in the use of force . Torture is deemed incompatible with human dignity and counterproductive in combating terrorism . The Church also recognizes the moral right to conscientious objection to war .
In summary, the Church addresses the impact of war on vulnerable populations by advocating for peace, setting strict limits on the use of military force, protecting civilians, and promoting ethical conduct during conflicts. The Church emphasizes that war should be a last resort and that peaceful means of conflict resolution should always be prioritized .