Pope Francis gives update on Catholic parish in Gaza after ceasefire
Charles Collins/Crux• January 22, 2025
Pope Francis has discussed how those who have been trapped in Gaza’s only Catholic parish have had their first decent meal in a long time following the ceasefire established between Israel and Hamas.
Speaking during his general audience at the Vatican on 22 January, the Pope stated:
“Yesterday I called, as I do it every day, the parish of Gaza: They were happy! There are 600 people there, between the parish and the college.”
He repeated his frequent statement, “War is always a defeat!” while also, as he has often done, deriding the global weapons industry for the misery it inflicts in the ruthless pursuit of profit.
Describing the call to the parish, the Pope said: “They told me: ‘Today we ate lentils with chicken.’ Something they weren’t used to doing these days, [getting] just a few vegetables, sometimes…They were happy!
“But we pray for Gaza, for peace and for many other parts of the world. War is always a defeat! Don’t forget: War is a defeat. And who profits from wars? The weapons manufacturers.”
Hamas, the Islamist group that controls Gaza, attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people, primarily Israeli civilians, and taking over 200 people as hostages.
The retaliatory offensive launched by Israel into Gaza has led to 46,000 Palestinians being killed, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, and which does not confirm how many of those killed are Hamas fighters.
A three-phase ceasefire deal was negotiated last week by the United States, Egypt and Qatar, with 33 Israeli hostages and nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees scheduled to be freed over the ceasefire’s initial 42-day period.
Pope Francis attending the weekly general audience at Paul-VI Hall in the Vatican, Vatican City State, 22 January 2025 (Photo by ANDREAS SOLARO/AFP via Getty Images)
“It’s a significant step forward, offering hope, but it does not mark the end of the conflict. We pray that this is the beginning of lasting peace,” Father Gabriel Romanelli, the parish priest in Gaza, told the media office of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
“We are relying on international efforts to end the war and focus on the future of the Middle East and the Holy Land.
“The sound of explosions and drones has finally stopped, offering relief to many. Some left the monastery to check on their homes or what remained of them. Some discovered their homes were completely destroyed, while others have yet to locate their homes or [can’t] even recognise the neighbourhoods they once lived in.”
The priest highlighted that the first phase of rebuilding in Gaza is full of challenges.
“People are desperately seeking aid to address severe shortages of essentials like water, fuel and food. The hardship is palpable, but so is hope and endurance, as the community holds onto the possibility of returning to some kind of normalcy,” Romanelli said.
“We’re also focused on organising the pastoral life of Gaza’s parish. This includes ensuring everyone’s safety, continuing prayers and maintaining daily activities, despite the difficult circumstances.
“Together with Caritas and the Sisters of Mother Teresa, we’re providing medical assistance to the sick and needy within our capabilities.
“Additionally, we’ve formed men’s and women’s fraternities to foster a spiritually enriching environment, including a focus on choir development and encouraging deeper exploration of faith,” the priest said.
Photo: Father Gabriel Romanelli, parish priest of the Roman Catholic Church of the Holy Family, censes before a crucifix during Christmas Eve Mass at the church in the Zaytoun neighbourhood of Gaza City, amid the ongoing war in the besieged territory between Israel and Hamas, Gaza, 24 December 2024. (Photo by OMAR AL-QATTAA/AFP via Getty Images.)