The pastor of the only Catholic church in Gaza, Argentine priest Father Gabriel Romanelli, on Sunday described the current situation after the church was hit by Israeli fire on July 17
Newsroom (22/07/2025, Gaudium Press ) Father Gabriel Romanelli, the pastor of Holy Family Church, Gaza’s sole Catholic parish, delivered a somber yet resilient message on Sunday, detailing the aftermath of an Israeli military strike on July 17 that left three dead and several injured, including a 19-year-old postulant who remains hospitalized. The Argentine priest, a member of the Institute of the Incarnate Word, spoke via a video posted July 20 on his YouTube channel, offering a firsthand account of the dire situation in the war-torn region.
“Unfortunately, the war continues,” Romanelli said, his voice heavy with grief. “Today there were many deaths, people who were even waiting in the north, where there is a great need for humanitarian aid. The numbers are terrible; there is no final figure yet, but they’re talking about dozens of deaths, many.” He described relentless bombardment across the Gaza Strip, with shrapnel from nearby strikes falling on the church compound. “We have come to understand what shrapnel means,” he said. “It’s not just something that makes noise but something that damages, wounds, and kills.”
Romanelli himself was injured by shrapnel during Thursday’s attack, an incident that drew condemnation from global Church leaders, including Pope Leo XIV, who held talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Monday. The priest also noted the oppressive heat, with a heat index of 42°C (108°F), exacerbating the already dire conditions for Gaza’s residents amid ongoing evacuations.
Signs of Hope Amid Hardship
Despite the devastation, Romanelli shared glimmers of hope. “We are in God’s grace, we are persevering in the faith,” he said, expressing gratitude for the support from the global Catholic community. The presence of Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, has been a particular source of comfort. “It’s a blessing for the people to have him, to pray with him, to see him pray, to ask for his blessing,” Romanelli said. “That he can console us is very gratifying.”
The priest also provided updates on two parishioners injured in the attack. Nayib, a young man with a lung injury who uses a wheelchair, is showing signs of improvement despite the “deplorable” conditions in Gaza’s few remaining hospitals, most of which have been destroyed. Suheil, a 19-year-old postulant known for his warmth and popularity among the parish’s youth, is recovering from a major operation. “He’s doing better,” Romanelli said. “He spoke on the phone, so he’s doing better.”
A Community in Shock, Yet Steadfast
Romanelli described a community still reeling from the attack but finding solace in faith and togetherness. “People are still in shock,” he said. “You can imagine how little time has passed since all of this.” Yet, he noted, the parish has continued to pray and sing, with children returning to the church courtyard to play soccer despite the threat of further bombardment. “The good thing is that we prayed and sang,” he said. “There has been little flying debris these days, and the children wanted to go out, sing, and yell.”
In closing, Romanelli issued a heartfelt plea for peace, urging the global community to “work and convince the world that peace is possible and necessary.” He invoked “the Prince of Peace, Our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Blessed Virgin Mary” in his prayers for Gaza and the broader region.
The attack on Holy Family Church marks yet another chapter in the ongoing conflict, underscoring the urgent need for humanitarian aid and a resolution to the violence that continues to claim lives and displace families across Gaza.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News
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