(LifeSiteNews) — In the wake of the Israeli army’s attack upon the only Catholic church in Gaza this morning, Pope Leo XIV has issued heartfelt condolences to the families, pledged his prayers, and renewed his “call for an immediate ceasefire.”

At around 10:20 a.m. local time on Thursday, the Holy Family Catholic Church compound “was struck by the Israeli army” killing at least three and injuring nine others “including one in critical condition and two in serious condition,” according to a statement from the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

These injuries included the community’s parish priest Fr. Gabriel Romanelli, who “sustained light injuries,” the Catholic authorities reported.

The Holy Father expressed deep sorrow due to the Israeli “military attack” upon the Catholic Church in the besieged enclave and expressed his “spiritual closeness” to the entire parish community.

“I commend the souls of the deceased to the loving mercy of Almighty God, and pray for their families and the injured,” the pontiff continued.

And with insistence, he concluded, “I renew my call for an immediate ceasefire. Only dialogue and reconciliation can ensure enduring peace!”

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

The Latin Patriarchate statement described the people sheltering in the Holy Family compound as those “who found in the Church a sanctuary—hoping that the horrors of war might at least spare their lives, after their homes, possessions, and dignity had already been stripped away.”

Headed by Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, who was speculated to be a possible candidate for the papacy in the recent conclave, the Latin Patriarchate condemned “this targeting of innocent civilians and of a sacred place,” while emphasizing “this tragedy is not greater or more terrible than the many others that have befallen Gaza. Many other innocent civilians have also been harmed, displaced and killed. Death, suffering and destruction are everywhere.”

“The time has come for leaders to raise their voices and to do all what is necessary in order to stop this tragedy which is humanly and morally, unjustified,” the statement demanded. “This horrific war must come to a complete end—so that we may commence the long work of restoring human dignity.”

Support for the State of Palestine a long-standing commitment of the Catholic Church

Following the breakout of the present genocidal hostilities in October 2023, Pizzaballa turned his mind toward what is necessary to accomplish a peaceful solution, he reiterated what the unanimous and constant voice of the Church in the region, along with the international community, judges to be the “root” evil of the conflict: the Israeli military occupation of internationally recognized Palestinian territory.

“It is only by ending decades of occupation and its tragic consequences, as well as giving a clear and secure national perspective to the Palestinian people that a serious peace process can begin,” assessed the Latin Patriarch at the time. “Unless this problem is solved at its root, there will never be the stability we all hope for.”

While serving as head of the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land in 2009, Cardinal Pizzaballa also endorsed the foundational Kairos document which was self-described as “the Christian Palestinians’ word to the world about what is happening in Palestine.” It was endorsed by heads of all the churches in Jerusalem, including all the Catholic and Orthodox rites, along with the Anglican and Lutheran denominations.

READ: How do Christians in the Holy Land understand the Israeli occupation of Palestine?

This full union of Christians in the Holy Land explained the brutal reality of the present 58-year Israeli occupation of internationally recognized Palestinian territory, calling it “a sin against God and humanity” that every Christian has a “duty” to resist.

Throughout these decades, the Vatican and scores of bishops from around the world have confirmed and maintained this same humanitarian and diplomatic perspective standing in support of international law as the pathway to ending the occupation and establishing a two-state solution that is supported by the overwhelming number of national governments of the world as well.

In this specific regard, international law requires the right of Palestinian refugees to return to the lands Israel drove them from since 1948, defines the legitimate borders of both Israel and Palestine while condemningIsrael for multiple unlawful attacks, violations of human rights, and more.

While Catholic bishops from around the world have additionally expressed constant support for the implementation of international law in the region, the Holy See’s 2010 Synod on the Middle East, under Pope Benedict XVI, reaffirmed this diplomatic position at the level of the universal Church.

Demanding the implementation of the U.N.’s Security Council’s resolutions, and the end of the Israeli occupation, the synod fathers lamented the suffering of the Palestinian people including “the lack of freedom of movement, the wall of separation and the military checkpoints, the political prisoners, the demolition of homes, the disturbance of socio-economic life and the thousands of refugees.”

In 2012, the United Nations General Assembly voted 138 to 9 to recognize Palestine as a non-member state, a vote the Holy See’s delegation welcomed “with favour.” By 2015, the Holy See had formally recognized the State of Palestine, a milestone the tenth anniversary of which was recently commemorated in June.

Currently, 147 of 193 (76%) of the member governments of the United Nations formally recognize the State of Palestine.

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