Calls from pope to Gaza church bring ‘great joy,’ says parish priest

by CNS · September 15, 2025

A screen grab shows Argentine Father Gabriel Romanelli’s profile picture on his @gabrielromanellisivori account on the social media platform Instagram Sept. 11, 2025. (CNS photo/screen grab, Instagram)

By Catholic News Service – Getting phone calls from the pope continues to bring “great joy” to the hundreds of people receiving shelter and support from the only Latin-rite Catholic church in Gaza, the parish priest said.

About 450 people forced to flee their homes, mostly the elderly, the sick and children, are housed in the Holy Family Church compound, Argentine Father Gabriel Romanelli told Vatican Media Sept. 10 in a video message.

Pope Francis, a fellow Argentine, called the parish priest almost every day for more than a year and a half since the start of the war in Gaza in October 2023 and including just two days before his death in April.

Father Romanelli told Vatican Media that Pope Leo XIV also has called them, but he did not specify how often. “We are fine, despite the terrible situation throughout the Gaza Strip,” he said.

In a video shared on his Instagram channel Sept. 10, Father Romanelli said it was not the first time Pope Leo called. “He is always closely following the situation and is very committed to ending this war, to working and praying for peace,” the priest said in Spanish. The pope “sends his blessings to everyone, to the entire Gaza Strip, to the entire parish community.” “It is a great joy to be in communication with the Holy Father, with Pope Leo,” he said.