In response to the Israel Defense Forces’ deadly bombing of the Holy Family Church in Gaza—the only Catholic Church in that city— Pope Leo XIV, on July 20, read out the names of the three dead and nine wounded in the IDF’s bombing of the Church on July 17, calling for an end to the “barbarity” of war in Gaza. “This act, unfortunately, adds to the ongoing military attacks against the civilian population and places of worship in Gaza,” he said, speaking after his Angelus prayer, reported NBC News.
Earlier, the church was watched over closely by the Pope Francis, who spoke daily with its parish priest. In a rare and risky visit to Gaza, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, and Theophilos III, the Greek Orthodox patriarch of Jerusalem, led a delegation into the territory on July 18. Speaking to Italy’s Corriere della Sera, Pizzaballa affirmed that the Catholic presence in Gaza would remain “whatever happens,” while expressing doubt about Israel’s claim that the strike was accidental. The church’s shattered windows and scorched façade attest to the strike."We are not a target. They say it was an error. Even if everybody here believes it wasn’t,” he said, Haaretz reported on July 20. Pizzaballa led Sunday mass July 20 at the Church
Perhaps, due to the apparent “bad optics,” U.S. President Trump called Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu after the bombing, to warn him to stop that. Netanyahu called Pope Leo July 18 to apologize, but blamed the whole incident publicly on “stray ammunition.”
