{"id":88823,"date":"2025-07-18T11:53:24","date_gmt":"2025-07-18T16:53:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/?p=88823"},"modified":"2025-07-18T11:53:24","modified_gmt":"2025-07-18T16:53:24","slug":"pope-leo-urges-ceasefire-in-gaza-during-call-with-netanyahu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/pope-leo-urges-ceasefire-in-gaza-during-call-with-netanyahu\/","title":{"rendered":"Pope Leo urges ceasefire in Gaza during call with Netanyahu"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>By JNS STAFF<\/p>\n<p>(JNS.org) \u2013&nbsp;Pope Leo XIV called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza on Friday, expressing concern following a strike by the Israel Defense Forces against Hamas terrorists that inadvertently hit the Holy Family Catholic Church, the only Catholic church in the Strip.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_88824\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/F211219AM07-1320x880-1.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-88824\" class=\"wp-image-88824 size-medium lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/F211219AM07-1320x880-1-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/F211219AM07-1320x880-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/F211219AM07-1320x880-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/F211219AM07-1320x880-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/F211219AM07-1320x880-1.jpg 1320w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 300px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 300\/200;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-88824\" class=\"wp-image-88824 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/F211219AM07-1320x880-1-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/F211219AM07-1320x880-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/F211219AM07-1320x880-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/F211219AM07-1320x880-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/F211219AM07-1320x880-1.jpg 1320w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/noscript><\/a><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-88824\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A mass in Gaza City&#8217;s Holy Family Church during the start of the Christmas holiday, Dec. 19, 2021. (Photo by Atia Mohammed\/Flash90)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>The strike, which occurred on Thursday morning, killed three people and wounded at least 10, including the parish priest, Father Gabriel Romanelli, according to&nbsp;<em>Vatican News<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>In a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday, the pope reiterated his plea for an end to the conflict and the protection of religious sites and civilians.<\/p>\n<p>According to a statement from the Holy See Press Office, Netanyahu phoned the pope at his summer palace in Castel Gandolfo, southeast of Rome, to discuss the incident.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDuring the conversation, the Holy Father renewed his appeal for a revival of negotiations and the achievement of a ceasefire and an end to the war,\u201d the Vatican said.<\/p>\n<p>The pope expressed alarm at the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, particularly its devastating impact on children, the elderly and the sick. \u201cThe Holy Father reiterated the urgency of protecting places of worship and, above all, the faithful and all people in Palestine and Israel,\u201d the statement added.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"media-oembed-video\">\n<div class=\"twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered\"><iframe id=\"twitter-widget-0\" title=\"X Post\" data-src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?creatorScreenName=JNS_org&amp;dnt=true&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-0&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=1945830848604917912&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jns.org%2Fpope-leo-urges-ceasefire-in-gaza-during-call-with-netanyahu%2F&amp;sessionId=aba2b9410b7af70efbe8c77d37b7b0d0692ba505&amp;siteScreenName=JNS_org&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&amp;width=550px\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-tweet-id=\"1945830848604917912\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" class=\"lazyload\" data-load-mode=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p><strong>\u2018We regret any unintentional damage\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Holy Family Church in Gaza City suffered significant damage in the strike. The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem condemned the attack, urging leaders to \u201craise their voices and to do all that is necessary to stop this tragedy, which is humanly and morally unjustified.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>After an initial investigation, the Israel Defense Forces said \u201cfragments from a shell\u201d mistakenly struck the church amid airstrikes nearby. The military emphasized that its operations target only military objectives and that it takes \u201cevery feasible effort to mitigate harm to civilians and religious structures.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The IDF added: \u201cWe regret any unintentional damage caused to them.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Widespread reports on social media claimed the church had been destroyed. However, images were posted after the strike in which a Catholic mass was being held, with much of the structure intact.<\/p>\n<p>The Prime Minister\u2019s Office in Jerusalem expressed sorrow over the incident, stating, \u201cWe share the grief of the families and the faithful. We are grateful to Pope Leo for his words of comfort. Israel is investigating the incident and remains committed to protecting civilians and holy sites.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>This statement followed Netanyahu\u2019s call with U.S. President Donald Trump, who also pressed the Israeli leader on the church strike.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt was not a positive reaction,\u201d White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told reporters. \u201cThe prime minister agreed to put out a statement. It was a mistake by the Israelis to hit that Catholic Church.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Vatican\u2019s secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, said Leo was \u201cdeeply saddened to learn of the loss of life and injury caused by the military attack.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, international condemnation of the incident has grown.<\/p>\n<p>Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called the church strike \u201cunacceptable,\u201d declaring, \u201cNo military action can justify such an attitude.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Italy\u2019s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani described it as \u201ca serious act against a Christian place of worship,\u201d urging an end to the violence and the pursuit of peace.<\/p>\n<p>Israel\u2019s Foreign Ministry echoed regret over the harm caused to the church and civilians. It reaffirmed that Israel \u201cnever targets churches or religious sites.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"media-oembed-video\">\n<div class=\"twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered\"><iframe id=\"twitter-widget-1\" title=\"X Post\" data-src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?creatorScreenName=JNS_org&amp;dnt=true&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-1&amp;features=eyJ0ZndfdGltZWxpbmVfbGlzdCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOltdLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2ZvbGxvd2VyX2NvdW50X3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9iYWNrZW5kIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19yZWZzcmNfc2Vzc2lvbiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZm9zbnJfc29mdF9pbnRlcnZlbnRpb25zX2VuYWJsZWQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib24iLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X21peGVkX21lZGlhXzE1ODk3Ijp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRyZWF0bWVudCIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3Nob3dfYmlyZHdhdGNoX3Bpdm90c19lbmFibGVkIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19kdXBsaWNhdGVfc2NyaWJlc190b19zZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdXNlX3Byb2ZpbGVfaW1hZ2Vfc2hhcGVfZW5hYmxlZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdmlkZW9faGxzX2R5bmFtaWNfbWFuaWZlc3RzXzE1MDgyIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRydWVfYml0cmF0ZSIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfbGVnYWN5X3RpbWVsaW5lX3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9mcm9udGVuZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9fQ%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=1945924011021492357&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jns.org%2Fpope-leo-urges-ceasefire-in-gaza-during-call-with-netanyahu%2F&amp;sessionId=aba2b9410b7af70efbe8c77d37b7b0d0692ba505&amp;siteScreenName=JNS_org&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&amp;width=550px\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-tweet-id=\"1945924011021492357\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" class=\"lazyload\" data-load-mode=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>The IDF has previously reported that Hamas continues to exploit civilian areas for military purposes, operating within hospitals, schools and places of worship. The military notes that such tactics endanger civilian lives by using them as human shields.<\/p>\n<div style=\"padding-bottom:20px; padding-top:10px;\" class=\"hupso-share-buttons\"><!-- Hupso Share Buttons - https:\/\/www.hupso.com\/share\/ --><a class=\"hupso_toolbar\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hupso.com\/share\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/static.hupso.com\/share\/buttons\/share-medium.png\" style=\"border:0px; padding-top: 5px; float:left;\" alt=\"Share Button\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.hupso.com\/share\/buttons\/share-medium.png\" style=\"border:0px; padding-top: 5px; float:left;\" alt=\"Share Button\"\/><\/noscript><\/a><script type=\"text\/javascript\">var hupso_services_t=new Array(\"Twitter\",\"Facebook\",\"Google Plus\",\"Pinterest\",\"Linkedin\",\"Tumblr\",\"Email\");var hupso_background_t=\"#EAF4FF\";var hupso_border_t=\"#66CCFF\";var hupso_toolbar_size_t=\"medium\";var hupso_image_folder_url = \"\";var hupso_url_t=\"\";var hupso_title_t=\"Pope%20Leo%20urges%20ceasefire%20in%20Gaza%20during%20call%20with%20Netanyahu\";<\/script><script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/static.hupso.com\/share\/js\/share_toolbar.js\"><\/script><!-- Hupso Share Buttons --><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":88824,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[663,40,8781,8790,8795,8788,14629],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88823"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=88823"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88823\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":88825,"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88823\/revisions\/88825"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/88824"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=88823"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=88823"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=88823"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}