Pope Leo XIV condemned the “barbarity” of the war on the Gaza Strip. On Sunday, July 20, he called for an end to the “indiscriminate use of force” following an Israeli military strike that hit a Catholic church in the region.
In his Angelus prayer, the Pope reiterated his demand for an immediate halt to the “barbarity of war” and urged for a peaceful resolution to the conflict. This statement came after three individuals were killed in the bombing of the only Catholic church in Gaza on Thursday.
The Pope expressed his deep sorrow regarding the attack on the Holy Family parish in Gaza City during a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the day after the incident. The church was sheltering approximately 600 displaced persons, many of whom were children and included several individuals with special needs.
In response to the attack, Israel stated that the military is investigating the strike.
The Pope added that this event is part of the ongoing military assaults against civilians and places of worship in Gaza. He appealed to the international community to ensure humanitarian law is upheld, protect civilians, prevent collective punishment, and avoid the indiscriminate use of force and forced displacement of populations.
The Gaza Strip is home to 2.4 million people, the majority of whom have been displaced at least once since the outbreak of hostilities on October 7, 2023.
Additionally, the Pope addressed the “dear” Christians in the Middle East, expressing solidarity with their sense of helplessness in the face of this extremely tragic situation.
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