Vatican City: Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State, described the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza as “a war without limits” during an interview with Italy’s RAI TG2 Post on Friday night. Calling for transparency, decisive action, and urgent peace efforts, the senior Vatican diplomat urged clarity over a recent military strike that hit a Catholic church and reiterated the need for genuine political will to bring the violence to an end.
Speaking candidly, Cardinal Parolin responded to a recent phone call between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Pope Francis following the bombing of the Church of the Holy Family in Gaza. The attack left three people dead and ten injured, including the parish priest, Father Gabriel Romanelli. “What is happening in Gaza has crossed every line,” said Cardinal Parolin. “We are witnessing a population being destroyed and starved.”
He welcomed the Prime Minister’s decision to speak directly with the Pope, calling it a “positive gesture” in light of the gravity of the incident. However, he emphasized that symbolic moves must be followed by tangible steps. “Three things must follow: a serious, credible investigation into the church bombing; full disclosure of its findings; and, most importantly, real action not just words.”
The cardinal questioned the narrative that the strike was merely a mistake. He demanded a deeper probe to determine whether the church was deliberately targeted, considering the unique peacemaking role Christian communities have historically played in the region. “If it was intentional, then it suggests an effort to silence those who serve as bridges for peace,” he warned.
Parolin lamented the escalation of violence, warning that the conflict in Gaza had moved beyond proportionality and now resembled a campaign of annihilation. He reiterated the Holy See’s openness to act as a neutral mediator in global conflicts but stressed that mediation only works when both sides are willing. “We’ve said this before there must be real willingness from both parties. Without that, even well-intentioned diplomacy has no legs to stand on.”
Asked whether he sees hope for peace, Cardinal Parolin admitted to harboring doubts, though he refrained from complete pessimism. “I want to believe there is political will,” he said, referencing Netanyahu’s recent remarks about the possibility of a ceasefire. “But promises must translate into immediate efforts on the ground. The human cost of this war is simply unbearable.”
Cardinal Parolin’s remarks underscore the Vatican’s growing concern over the spiraling crisis in Gaza and reaffirm the Holy See’s insistence that moral accountability, not just military rhetoric, must guide the path to peace.