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Vatican News reports that The Holy Family Church - the only Catholic Church in Gaza - was struck by a raid and shelling by an Israeli tank this morning (17 July), resulting in three deaths and several injuries (including the Parish priest, Fr Gabriel Romanelli) with extensive damage to church buildings. Fr Romanelli travelled to the UK for a week-long visit last year, in order to thank the Bishops' Conferences of England, Wales, and Scotland for their support and solidarity and highlight the plight of the Christian community in Gaza, and the wider Holy Land.

More than 60,200 people (58,313 Palestinians and 1,983 Israelis) have been reported killed in the war since 7 October 2023, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Speaking earlier today the Latin Patriarchate in Jerusalem appealed to leaders "to raise their voices and to do all that is necessary in order to stop this tragedy which is humanly and morally unjustified." In a statement issued this afternoon, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales and Archbishop of Westminster, said:

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“I condemn this appalling strike on the Holy Family Church in Gaza, pray for the dead and injured, and stand in solidarity with Fr Gabriel Romanelli and the people sheltering in the compound – Christians and Muslims alike.

“For twenty months, the Church of the Holy Family has managed to be a place of sanctuary and spiritual support amidst the horrors of war, feeding and protecting hundreds of people.

“I add my voice to Pope Leo’s call for a return of hostages, and an immediate ceasefire to end the suffering in Gaza and bring peace to the region. I encourage you, in your homes and parishes, to pray for peace and an end to this war.”

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Speaking to Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) earlier this week, Fr Romanelli stressed that the situation was still critical:

“The situation at the municipality remains very, very serious" he said, “The bombings continue, as you know, in Rafah, in the south of the Strip, but also in the north – the area of Jabalia and other places as well. Another day of war – another hour of war – continues to complicate the lives of tens and hundreds of thousands of people. We ask you to continue helping us – to pray a lot, and to encourage others to pray. To seek peace and justice by all means, and also to lend a hand to these poor people."

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Pope Leo has renewed his call for “an immediate ceasefire” in Gaza following the military attack. In a telegram signed by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican Secretary of State on behalf of the Holy Father, he expresses deep sorrow for the loss of life and for the injuries caused by the attack and his spiritual closeness to the parish priest, Fr Romanelli expressing “his profound hope for dialogue, reconciliation and enduring peace in the region”.

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Sources: CBCEW, ACN, Vatican News, Image: CBCEW