Gaza City: As Pope Leo XIV renews his appeal for peace in war-torn Gaza, the voice of the enclave’s small Catholic community comes from the Holy Family Parish, the only Catholic parish in the Strip. Its parish priest, Fr. Gabriel Romanelli, has affirmed that Christians will not abandon the suffering around them but will remain steadfast in their mission of service and prayer.
Fr. Romanelli, an Argentinian-born priest, explained that he and his fellow religious men and women have made a conscious decision to remain in the parish compound, caring for the elderly, the sick, and the most vulnerable. “We are in the Lord’s hands, and we trust that, with the help of many good people around the world, this will stop,” he told Vatican News. Their mission, he said, is rooted in the Eucharist and in the belief that serving Christ means standing beside the poor, the wounded, and those who have lost hope.
The community at Holy Family Parish includes priests of the Institute of the Incarnate Word, sisters from the same congregation, and the Missionaries of Charity. Together, they are united in their response to the immense needs of those around them. “Seeing the suffering of the elderly, the anxious, the disabled, and the anguished, we understand that the Lord is calling us to stay. Otherwise, how will these people survive?” Fr. Romanelli said.
Their witness comes amid unrelenting violence. With recent weeks bringing intensified military operations and heavy bombardments in Gaza City, the parish has become a place of refuge. But even within its walls, there is no escaping the grief of more deaths, destruction, and injuries that mark each passing day. The parish priest acknowledged that the uncertainty of what lies ahead weighs heavily, especially with fears that the conflict may soon expand directly into the heart of Gaza City.
Despite the grim realities, the parish continues to echo the appeals of the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, and the Greek Orthodox Patriarch, Theophilos III, urging all people of goodwill to pray for peace and to demand an end to the war. Fr. Romanelli highlighted particular concerns for the thousands of sick and wounded who are unable to access medical care anywhere in the Gaza Strip, as well as for the hostages and those deprived of freedom.
“We will continue here, with simplicity and humility,” he said. “It is not easy, but our hope is in the Lord. With the prayers of many around the world, we trust that one day this suffering will come to an end.”