Clergy in Gaza, including Fr. Marcelo and Mother Maria, embody hope amid conflict, fostering peace and faith. Cardinal Parolin honors their Christ-driven mission.
Newsroom (16/10/2025, Gaudium Press ) In the heart of Gaza, where conflict and hardship cast long shadows, a group of dedicated clergy and religious sisters embody a beacon of hope and resilience. Father Marcelo Gallardo, Father Gabriel Romanelli, and Mother Maria del Cielo Leyes, alongside their communities, have committed themselves to serving the people of the Gaza Strip, sharing in their struggles and offering unwavering spiritual support.
Father Marcelo: A Grace to Serve in Gaza Father Marcelo Gallardo, a priest of the Institute of the Incarnate Word, has shared his profound experiences of serving multiple times in the Gaza Strip, including a visit in July alongside Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, following an attack on a local church by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). “For us, it is a grace to be there, sharing the same life as those in the parish and striving to be close to the people in that tormented land,” he said. Reflecting on the challenges, he noted, “I have often found our priests weary, but never discouraged; grieving for the losses of the people, yet always trusting in God and, paradoxically, joyful in the Lord.” He concluded with a somber observation: “The situation in Gaza is, in many ways, worse than a prison, but we have felt the closeness of the Pope and the entire Church. Now we pray that paths to a just peace in the Holy Land may open.”
Father Romanelli: Grateful for Global Solidarity Father Gabriel Romanelli, injured in an Israeli attack on the parish on September 17, delivered a heartfelt video message, surrounded by children and parishioners after a Eucharistic celebration. “Thank you!” he exclaimed, addressing supporters worldwide. “Through your work and missions, you have remembered this church of the Latin Patriarchate. Your generosity continues to amaze us. We, too, are convinced that we are people of dialogue and peace, just as God offered reconciliation after original sin. Truly, the Word became flesh.” He affirmed their ongoing commitment: “Every day, we pray and work for peace.”
Mother Maria del Cielo: Called to the Places No One Wants to Go Mother Maria del Cielo Leyes, provincial of the Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matará (Family of the Incarnate Word), emphasized her congregation’s mission to bear witness to Christ in the most challenging environments. “Our desire has always been to testify to Christ by loving everyone. Our charism compels us to go to the most terrible places, where no one else wants to go,” she said. The urgency, she explained, lies in “testifying to the love of the Church, which, as a mother, never abandons her children.” In Gaza, this includes teaching forgiveness, especially to children. Yet, she admitted, “During many nights, our prayers mingled with tears.” Holding back emotion, she credited their perseverance to “the prayers of so many—priests, nuns, the sick, children in our mercy homes, parish youth groups, and entire families.” Accepting an award on behalf of her sisters in Gaza—Suor María del Pilar, Suor María del Perpetuo Socorro, and the current missionaries, María Emperatriz de América and Maria de las Maravillas de Jesús—she underscored the collective effort toward dialogue and peace in the Holy Land.
Cardinal Parolin: Proud of the Church’s Witnesses Cardinal Pietro Parolin, in his remarks, expressed deep admiration for these figures. “I feel proud,” he said, “because within the body of the Church, there are people like them. What they have done, they have done for all of us, even if we don’t always realize it.” He highlighted the humanizing power of their presence: “War dehumanizes those on the other side, reducing them to enemies or animals. But they, through their presence, have constantly reminded us of the names and stories of Gaza’s Christians and Palestinians.” Their motivation, he emphasized, is singular: “The name of Jesus.”
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News
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