Fr Gabriel Romanelli, the pastor of Holy Family Parish, the only Catholic parish in the Gaza Strip, has shared the joy of his community after speaking with Pope Francis on Tuesday. Despite being hospitalized in critical condition with bilateral pneumonia, the Holy Father reached out to express his closeness and offer prayers.
“As he has done every day since the beginning of this terrible war, Pope Francis has once again called to show his support, pray for us, and give us his blessing,” Romanelli said in a video message posted by the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
The parish, which now shelters around 500 people, including more than 50 Muslim children with disabilities and their families, has become a refuge amid the ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel. Romanelli noted that the pope’s daily calls—only interrupted when his health took a critical turn last Saturday—remain a source of comfort and strength.
“Despite his delicate health, he continues to think and pray for everyone, for peace in Gaza,” he said, expressing gratitude for the pope’s unwavering support. He also urged prayers for an end to the war and lasting peace in the Holy Land and the Middle East.
