Vitecan city (TDI): Pope Leo XIV on Sunday condemned a deadly strike on Gaza’s only Catholic church, after three people were killed and several were wounded at the Holy Family Church, which had been a refuge for many displaced families.
Speaking after his Angelus prayer, the Pope expressed his “deep sorrow” at the latest attack and called down the names of the victims, including 60-year-old church custodian Saad Salameh, 84-year-old Fumayya Ayyad, and Najwa Ibrahim Latif Abu Daoud.
“This act, deplorable as it is, is added to the continuous military attacks on civilians and places of worship in Gaza,” he said.
I am deeply saddened to learn of the loss of life and injury caused by the military attack on the Holy Family Catholic Church in #Gaza. I assure the parish community of my spiritual closeness. I commend the souls of the deceased to the loving mercy of Almighty God, and pray for…
— Pope Leo XIV (@Pontifex) July 17, 2025
On Friday, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, and Theophilos III, leading catholic and Orthodox figures of Jerusalem, traveled to Gaza to show support for the local Christian population following the deadly strike.
The Holy Family Church, located in the Zeitoun neighborhood of Gaza City, had been a refuge for Muslim and Christian families for months.
On July 17, part of the compound, including residential spaces, a small clinic, and a tent operated by Caritas, where it provided psychosocial services, was hit by an explosion.
Images of the location appear to show blackened walls, broken stained glass, and destroyed religious icons, including pictures of the Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ.
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The church, one of the few working religious establishments in northern Gaza, had previously been spiritually run directly by the Vatican.
Pope Francis himself had personally provided individual assistance to the parish during previous times of escalation, even gifting the children of the community his popemobile.
In the 48 hours since the church attack, over 150 were reported killed in Gaza by local health authorities.
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