In a message signed by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Holy See, addressed to the Argentine priest Gabriel Romanelli, parish priest of the Catholic Church of the Holy Family in Gaza, the Supreme Pontiff expressed his “deep sadness” over the attack, according to a note published on the website of the Vatican News newspaper.

In his telegram to Romanelli, who suffered leg injuries from Israeli shrapnel and was transferred to Al-Ahli Hospital in the Gaza Strip, the Bishop of Rome assured of his “spiritual closeness and prayers for the entire parish community,” while renewing his call for an immediate ceasefire.

In the note, Leo XIV also expressed his “hope for talks, reconciliation, and lasting peace in the region,” where more than 56,000 Palestinians have already died in Gaza as a result of the bombing of Tel Aviv.

A report published in the aforementioned Vatican news outlet states that the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem confirmed the attack that occurred Thursday morning against the church, which provides shelter to some 500 people, which resulted in a high number of injuries, several seriously, and the death of two people, both women.

Upon learning of this incident, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed in a message that “the attacks that Israel has been carrying out against the civilian population for months are unacceptable,” as “no military action can justify such an attitude.”

For his part, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani contacted his Israeli counterpart, Gideon Saar, by phone to express his government’s condemnation of these events.

He also contacted Father Romanelli to update him on the situation at the church, which suffered serious damage, and on the condition of the wounded.

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