A deadly strike on Gaza’s only Catholic church has shocked the global Catholic community, prompting urgent appeals for peace from Church leaders, the Vatican, and even world powers. The July 17 attack on the Holy Family Church in Gaza City — described by Israel as an accident — killed three people and wounded ten others, including its pastor, Father Gabriel Romanelli, a close friend of the late Pope Francis.
According to the Latin Patriarchate, the explosion scattered shrapnel across the compound, killing Saad Issa Kostandi Salameh, 60; Foumia Issa Latif Ayyad, 84; and Najwa Abu Daoud, 70. The Holy Family Church had become a shelter for over 500 civilians since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023. Israel Defense Forces acknowledged the strike in a post on X, stating that “fragments from a shell” hit the church and that “the cause of the incident is under review.” The statement continued: “The IDF directs its strikes solely at military targets and makes every feasible effort to mitigate harm to civilians and religious structures, and regrets any unintentional damage caused to them.”
But Church leaders are demanding more than regret. In a strong rebuke, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said in a July 17 statement: “The time has come for leaders to raise their voices and to do all [that] is necessary in order to stop this tragedy, which is humanly and morally unjustified.” The statement emphasized that the Church “will continue to stand by the side of the community of Gaza” and other Christian communities in the region.
The tragedy drew sharp condemnation from Pope Leo XVI and U.S. President Donald Trump. According to a Vatican statement, Pope Leo XVI spoke directly with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, expressing “his concern over the dramatic humanitarian situation for the population in Gaza, with children, the elderly and the sick paying the most heartbreaking price.” The Pope also reiterated his commitment “to do everything possible to stop the useless slaughter of innocent people,” calling the strike on the church “an unjustifiable attack.”
Netanyahu, in turn, offered “Israel’s regret for the tragic incident in which stray ammunition accidentally struck The Holy Family Church,” according to a statement from his office.
The visit of two patriarchs to the bombed parish the day after the strike underscored the Church’s unified response. Latin Patriarch Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa and Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III crossed into Gaza despite Israel’s heavy restrictions to express their “shared pastoral solicitude,” as stated in an official release. In addition to comforting the faithful, the leaders organized emergency convoys carrying hundreds of tons of food, medical supplies, and essential aid — and began evacuation efforts for those injured.
The Church’s involvement in relief efforts continues amid escalating violence. Overnight Israeli strikes across Gaza killed 18 more people, including four members of the same family in Khan Younis, according to morgue records from Nasser Hospital. Associated Press footage showed grieving families digging through rubble. One relative lamented, “They are still under the rubble. Until now we are unable to get them out, even in small pieces.”
Fr. Romanelli, the wounded parish priest, had regularly spoken with Pope Francis before the Pope’s death in April. The Vatican confirmed the Holy Father had been updated on Fr. Romanelli’s condition, calling attention to the priest’s role in sharing the suffering of Gazan civilians with the world.
As the Church grieves, it also demands accountability and peace. Earlier in the week, Cardinal Pizzaballa and Patriarch Theophilos had condemned “systemic and targeted” attacks on Christians by illegal Israeli settlers in the West Bank. “The Church has had a faithful presence in this region for nearly 2,000 years,” they declared. “We firmly reject this message of exclusion and reaffirm our commitment to a Holy Land that is a mosaic of different faiths, living peacefully together in dignity and safety.”
The attack on Holy Family Church — already a sanctuary for the most vulnerable — has become a symbol of the deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. As Pope Leo XVI told Cardinal Pizzaballa in the wake of the assault, “It is time to stop this slaughter.”【Source: Associated Press, Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, IDF statement via X, Vatican press office】.
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