Israeli attack on church in Gaza injures priest Pope Francis called daily [View all]
Source: The Guardian
Israeli strikes have hit the only Catholic church in Gaza, injuring several people including the parish priest – who used to receive daily calls from the late Pope Francis – and drawing condemnation from the Italian prime minister, Giorgia Meloni.
“The Holy Family church in Gaza has been struck by a raid this morning,” the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said in a statement. “There are several injuries in the place, including the parish priest, Father Gabriel Romanelli. Currently there are no fatalities confirmed. The church sustained damage.”
Before his death in April, the former pope would call Romanelli, an Argentinian, every evening to discuss the war in Gaza. He began the routine on 9 October 2023, two days after the attacks on Israel by Hamas, as a way to express solidarity during the conflict.
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The church was sheltering Christians and Muslims, including a number of children with disabilities, according to Fadel Naem, acting director of al-Ahli Arab hospital, which received the wounded. At least two people were left in a critical condition, Naem said, and among the others injured were a child with disabilities, two women and an elderly person.
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/17/israeli-attack-on-church-in-gaza-injures-priest-pope-francis-called-daily
Some reports say 2 killed: https://kdhnews.com/news/nation/2-killed-and-several-injured-in-israeli-strike-on-gazas-only-catholic-church/article_08a9b7cb-4ae1-5da4-bc7f-e9541011e6cc.html
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