Pope Leo calls for immediate ceasefire in Gaza after church strike kills 3
Speaking after his Angelus prayer from his summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, the Pope said he was deeply saddened by the incident, which killed three people and wounded several others, including the parish priest.
'I once again call for an immediate end to the barbarity of this war and for a peaceful resolution to the conflict,' Pope Leo said, according to the Associated Press (AP).
Sadly, this act adds to the continuous military attacks against the civilian population and places of worship in Gaza. I again call for an immediate halt to the barbarism of the war and for a peaceful resolution of the conflict. I renew my appeal to the international community to…
— Pope Leo XIV (@Pontifex) July 20, 2025
The strike on the Holy Family Church in Gaza City took place on Thursday. Reuters reported that photos from the scene showed damage to the roof near the main cross, with blackened stone walls and shattered windows. The compound had been sheltering hundreds of people fleeing the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, now in its 21st month.
'I appeal to the international community to observe humanitarian law and respect the obligation to protect civilians, as well as the prohibition of collective punishment, the indiscriminate use of force, and forced displacement,' the pontiff said. Israel has said the incident was not intentional and that it is under investigation.
Earlier in the day, the Pope presided over Mass at the nearby Cathedral of Albano. Afterward, he told reporters, 'We need to dialogue and abandon weapons.' He added, 'The world no longer tolerates war.'
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