Pope Leo XIV and Israeli PM Netanyahu held a phone call on Friday, amid escalating violence in the Holy Land, following an IDF strike on the Holy Family Church in Gaza
Newsroom (18/07/2025, Gaudium Press) Pope Leo XIV and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a phone call on Friday, amid escalating violence in the Holy Land, following an Israeli military strike on the Holy Family Church in Gaza that killed three people and injured ten, including the parish priest, Father Gabriel Romanelli.
The Holy See Press Office reported that the call took place at the Pope’s residence in Castel Gandolfo. “During the conversation, the Holy Father renewed his appeal for a revival of negotiations and the achievement of a ceasefire and an end to the war,” the statement said. Pope Leo XIV expressed deep concern over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, noting the devastating impact on children, the elderly, and the sick. He also emphasized the urgent need to protect places of worship and the safety of all people in Palestine and Israel.
The Holy Family Church, Gaza’s only Catholic parish, was hit by a shell from an Israeli tank on Thursday morning. The attack prompted a strong response from the Latin Patriarchate in Jerusalem, which condemned the strike as “humanly and morally unjustified” and called on world leaders to act to end the tragedy.
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, visited the parish on Friday alongside Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III. During the visit, Pope Leo XIV called Cardinal Pizzaballa to express solidarity and reiterate his call for an immediate ceasefire. “Pope Leo repeatedly stated that it is time to stop this slaughter, that what has happened is unjustifiable, and that we must ensure there are no more victims,” Cardinal Pizzaballa told Vatican News. He conveyed the gratitude of Gaza’s Catholic community for the Pope’s prayers and support.
The Israel-Hamas conflict, ongoing since October 2023, has seen repeated papal interventions. The late Pope Francis maintained near-daily contact with Father Romanelli, and Pope Leo XIV continued this engagement, sending a message to the parish on Thursday to pray for the victims and those sheltering in the church compound. The Pope called for “an immediate ceasefire” and expressed hope for “dialogue, reconciliation, and enduring peace in the region.”
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News
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