The Pope continues with concern the consequences of the land offensive of Israel in the capital of the Strip, in Gaza, where 600,000 civilians live, including the small Catholic community refugee in the parish building of the Sacred Family, which have where to flee.
After the catechesis of the general audience on Wednesday, the Pope lamented that the population of Gaza has been forced “by force to abandon their lands once again.”
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Leo XIV expressed his deep solidarity with the Palestinian people of Gaza, “who continues to live with fear and survive in unacceptable conditions, forced by force to abandon their lands once again,”
“Before the almighty, who has ordered ‘you will not kill’, and before the whole history of humanity, each person always has an inviolable dignity that must be respected and protected,” he said.
He also renewed his call “Al Alto el Fuego, to the liberation of hostages, to a negotiated diplomatic solution and to the full respect of international humanitarian law. I invite everyone to join my fervent prayer, so that a fair peace and justice soon dawns.”
Christians in Gaza “still resist,” says the Pope
On the other hand, on the afternoon of this Tuesday, September 16, before returning to the Vatican from Villa Barberini in Castel Gandolfo, where he moved on Monday night, Leo XIV attended to journalists’ questions about the consequences of the Isralei army offensive.
Around 20:30, Villa Barberini’s gates opened, a sign that the Pope was about to leave. Before getting into the car, in a gesture that is becoming customary, Leo XIV smiled and answered the questions of various media, while the congregated crowd applauded him.
Asked by journalists POr the exodus of the population of the city of Gaza, the Pope confirmed that he has maintained telephone contact with the local community and with the parish priest of the Sagrada Familia, Fr. Gabriel Romanelli. “So many,” he said, “they have nowhere to go and that is why it is a great concern. I have also spoken with our there, with the pastor: for now they want to stay, they still resist, but you have to really look for another solution.”
In the morning, that same day, Leo XIV had called the Argentine priest to know firsthand the situation before the land attack of the Israeli army.
“NATO has not begun any war”
In relation to Kremlin’s statements about an alleged NATO war against Russia, the Pope was clear: “NATO has not begun any war. Poles are worried because they feel that their airspace has been invaded; it is a very tense situation,” said the pontiff. He then said that “the concern is a lot.”
Before getting into the car, several choirs of “Happy Birthday!” and “Happy onomastics!” In fact, today Wednesday, September 17, the Church celebrates San Roberto Belarmino, Patron of Leo XIV, so it is a holiday in the Vatican.
Victoria Cardiel
Victoria Cardiel is a journalist specialized in social and religious information issues. Since 2013, he has covered all the news of the Vatican for various media, such as the Spanish news agency Europa Press, or the weekly of the Archdiocese of Madrid, Alfa and Omega.