Latest news with #PietroParolin
Shafaq News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Pope Leo XIV offers support after Iraq fire tragedy
Shafaq News – Baghdad/Vatican Pope Leo XIV has assured victims of a shopping centre fire in Iraq of his 'spiritual solidarity', expressing his closeness especially to those injured in the tragedy and to the families of those who lost loved ones. A telegram signed by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin says the Holy Father 'commends the souls of the deceased to the loving mercy of the Almighty, and offers his prayers for the emergency personnel who continue to provide assistance', while invoking on all 'the divine blessings of strength, consolation, and peace.' At least 69 people were killed when a fire broke out in a new shopping centre in the Iraqi city of Kut in Wasit Province in eastern Iraq. Eleven others have been reported missing. The mall, which had opened just five days earlier, included a hypermarket and restaurant, where people were shopping and dining when the fire broke out. Civil defence teams rescued 45 people from inside the building. In a statement, the governor of Wasit said, 'A tragedy and a calamity have befallen us,' and announced a three-day period of mourning. The statement said an investigation into the fire has been launched, with results promised within 48 hours. Lawsuits have already been filed against the owner of the building and the mall.
Express Tribune
4 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Israel strikes Gaza Catholic church, killing three
An Israeli strike on Gaza's sole Catholic Church killed three people and injured several others, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, which oversees the small parish, said on Thursday. The Patriarchate condemned "this targeting of innocent civilians and of a sacred place," saying two women and one man had died in the attack on the Holy Family Church. "This horrific war must come to a complete end," it said, adding that the victims had turned to the church compound as a safe haven "after their homes, possessions, and dignity had already been stripped away." The Holy Family Church spoke in a separate statement of "a number of injured, some in critical condition." In a telegram for the victims, Pope Leo said he was "deeply saddened" and called for "an immediate ceasefire." The pope expressed his "profound hope for dialogue, reconciliation and enduring peace in the region," according to the telegram which was signed by the Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and made no mention of Israel. The Israeli military said it was looking into the incident. Israel's foreign ministry said in a statement on X that the results of the investigation would be published. It also said the country did not target churches or religious sites and regretted harm to them or civilians. The Patriarchate earlier said the parish priest, Father Gabriel Romanelli, was among those injured, and his church had sustained damage. Father Romanelli, an Argentine, used to regularly update the late Pope Francis about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict via calls and messages. TV footage showed him sitting receiving treatment at Al-Ahly Hospital in Gaza, with a bandage around his lower right leg. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni blamed Israel for the strike on the religious compound. "The attacks against the civilian population that Israel has been carrying out for months are unacceptable. No military action can justify such an attitude," she said in a statement. Reuters
CNN
4 days ago
- Politics
- CNN
Pope ‘deeply saddened' after two people killed in strike on Gaza's only Catholic church
Pope Leo XIV was 'deeply saddened' after two people were killed in a strike on Gaza's only Catholic church, he said in a Vatican telegram on Thursday. Calling the strike a 'military attack,' the Vatican's Secretary of State Pietro Parolin said: 'In commending the souls of the deceased to the loving mercy of Almighty God, the Holy Father prays for the consolation of those who grieve and for the recovery of the injured.' The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, which has jurisdiction for Latin-rite Catholics in Gaza, said the two people were killed after Gaza's Holy Family Church was struck by Israel on Thursday morning. 'With deep sorrow, the Latin Patriarchate can now confirm that two persons were killed as a result of an apparent strike by the Israeli army that hit the Holy Family Compound this morning,' the patriarchate said in a statement. The Israeli military said it was 'aware of reports regarding damage caused to the Holy Family Church in Gaza City and casualties at the scene,' adding that 'the circumstances of the incident are under review.' 'The (Israel Defense Forces) makes every feasible effort to mitigate harm to civilians and civilian structures, including religious sites, and regrets any damage caused to them,' it said. The two killed were named as Saad Issa Kostandi Salameh and Foumia Issa Latif Ayyad, the patriarchate said. 'We pray for the rest of their souls and for the end of this barbaric war. Nothing can justify the targeting of innocent civilians,' its statement read. Funerals for both of the deceased will take place at Gaza City's Saint Porphyrios Orthodox Church on Thursday afternoon, the church said in a post on Facebook. 'His Holiness renews his call for an immediate ceasefire, and he expresses his profound hope for dialogue, reconciliation and enduring peace in the region,' Pope Leo's telegram continued. This is a developing story and will be updated.
CNN
4 days ago
- Politics
- CNN
Pope ‘deeply saddened' after two people killed in strike on Gaza's only Catholic church
Pope Leo XIV was 'deeply saddened' after two people were killed in a strike on Gaza's only Catholic church, he said in a Vatican telegram on Thursday. Calling the strike a 'military attack,' the Vatican's Secretary of State Pietro Parolin said: 'In commending the souls of the deceased to the loving mercy of Almighty God, the Holy Father prays for the consolation of those who grieve and for the recovery of the injured.' The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, which has jurisdiction for Latin-rite Catholics in Gaza, said the two people were killed after Gaza's Holy Family Church was struck by Israel on Thursday morning. 'With deep sorrow, the Latin Patriarchate can now confirm that two persons were killed as a result of an apparent strike by the Israeli army that hit the Holy Family Compound this morning,' the patriarchate said in a statement. The Israeli military said it was 'aware of reports regarding damage caused to the Holy Family Church in Gaza City and casualties at the scene,' adding that 'the circumstances of the incident are under review.' 'The (Israel Defense Forces) makes every feasible effort to mitigate harm to civilians and civilian structures, including religious sites, and regrets any damage caused to them,' it said. The two killed were named as Saad Issa Kostandi Salameh and Foumia Issa Latif Ayyad, the patriarchate said. 'We pray for the rest of their souls and for the end of this barbaric war. Nothing can justify the targeting of innocent civilians,' its statement read. Funerals for both of the deceased will take place at Gaza City's Saint Porphyrios Orthodox Church on Thursday afternoon, the church said in a post on Facebook. 'His Holiness renews his call for an immediate ceasefire, and he expresses his profound hope for dialogue, reconciliation and enduring peace in the region,' Pope Leo's telegram continued. This is a developing story and will be updated.
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Israel-Gaza conflict: Pope Leo ‘deeply saddened' after Israeli strike on catholic church, urges ceasefire
Israel-Gaza News: Pope Leo has expressed his sadness over the deaths of two people following an Israeli strike on Gaza's sole Catholic Church. In a telegram for the victims signed by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's Secretary of State, Pope Leo said he was 'deeply saddened to learn of the loss of life and injury caused by the military attack.' The Pope also renewed his 'call for an immediate ceasefire, and he expresses his profound hope for dialogue, reconciliation and enduring peace in the region.' Earlier in the day, two people were killed and several others injured after Israeli strike on Gaza's only Catholic church. According to reports, the Catholic charity Caritas Jerusalem said the parish's 60-year-old janitor and an 84-year-old woman receiving psychosocial support inside a Caritas tent in the church compound were killed in the attack. Meanwhile, Israeli military said it is aware of the incident and is investigating. (With AP Inputs)
