Fr. Gabriel Romanelli, pastor of the only Catholic Church in the Gaza Strip, said on his YouTube channel that he received a new call from Pope Leo XIV, who expressed his proximity and sent his blessing to the entire community.
“A huge joy to be in communication with the Holy Father, with Pope León. He wanted to know how we are,” said the priest.
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From the beginning of the conflict, Fr. Romanelli remains in the parish of the Sagrada Familia with some 450 refugees, including elderly, sick and children. “We told him that we are fine, that the situation is still bad. We are still here in the parish, with people in our care,” he explained.
The presbyter said that the Pope “is very determined at the end of this war, to work and pray for peace,” and transmitted that the Pontiff sent “the blessing for all, for the entire Gaza Strip, for the entire parish community.”
The pastor explained that, although many inhabitants move south, most remain in the city. “The great part of the population does not want to leave. Many say the same thing we have heard almost from the beginning of the war. Everywhere there is danger, there are bombings, real danger, there is death, bombings. Wounded, destruction,” he explained.
Amid so much pain, the Argentine priest shared that the Catholic community lived two moments of hope: “Yesterday we had a long, solemn mass, where a couple of parishioners from the Catholic community contracted a holy marriage. So a great joy. And today another great joy. In the midst of so much pain a little boy was born, who put Marcos, of the refugees.”
“God always blesses us. And in these difficult times he continues to bless us and show his closeness and his blessing. Let’s continue praying for peace,” said the priest.
Finally, he requested the intercession of the Virgin Mary: “We are convinced that the end of this war will bring a little more serenity, even if it is not synonymous with the entire region and much of the world. Let us continue to pray to God to grant us the miracle of peace by intercession of the Blessed Virgin. Bless them Almighty God from Gaza, who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Diego López Marina
I was born in 1991. I have a degree in Communication Sciences. Since 2015 I work as a digital journalist. I started my career in the newspaper El Comercio in Peru. In 2016, I began as editor in ACI Press and I perform as a web editor since 2018. From 2024, I write the Newsletter for Social Media. I specialize in Catholic news focused on the defense of life and family, international politics, technology, popular culture and the Vatican.