Pope's calls to Gaza bring "great joy," says parish priest

- Carol Glatz, Vatican City (CNS)

Some 450 people forced to flee their homes, mostly elderly, sick and children, are housed in the compound of the Holy Family Church in Gaza. Argentine parish priest Gabriel Romanelli has reported what is happening to Vatican Media. And he has said that the Pope's phone calls give "great joy." "He follows the situation very closely."

Pope Francis, an Argentine compatriot, 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. He also called just two days before his death in April.

Father Romanelli told Vatican Media that Pope Leo XIV has also called them, but did not specify how often.

The situation remains very difficult

After Israel launched an attack on Hamas leaders in Qatar on September 9, Pope Leo XIV told reporters that he had just tried to call the parish in Gaza City.

"I just tried to call the pastor, but I have no news," the Pope commented, expressing concern about a new evacuation order from Israel. Israeli planes had dropped leaflets over Gaza City in the morning. They warned of a new attack on the city and encouraged civilians to evacuate.

Father Romanelli shared a video with Vatican media on Sept. 10, in which he claimed that he and other residents had been able to speak with the pope after his attempt to call. "We told him that we are fine, that the situation is still difficult."

"The majority of the population does not want to leave," he said, stressing that "we are still close to them." "We are fine, despite the terrible situation in the entire Gaza Strip," he told Vatican Media in his video.

"He follows the situation closely and is very committed."

In a video shared on his Instagram feed on Sept. 10, Father Romanelli said it was not the first time Pope Leo had called.

"He always follows the situation closely and is very committed to the end of this war, 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.

The priest explained that he could not answer the phone when the Pope called because they were in the middle of a long and beautiful liturgical celebration.

Father Romanelli told Vatican Media that they were celebrating Mass and the sacrament of marriage for a Catholic couple, "a great joy." Other joyful news, "in the midst of so much pain," he said, was the birth of a baby boy named Mark. The mother is one of the many internally displaced people they house.

Priests have refused to leave

Priests from the compounds of Holy Family Church and St. Porphyrios Greek Orthodox Church have refused to evacuate as they were providing shelter to hundreds of civilians who have nowhere else to go.

Israeli forces damaged both church compounds: St. Porphyry in October 2023 and the Holy Family in December 2023 and in July of this year. The Israeli military claimed that the attacks were unintentional.

"We are still in the parish."

Father Romanelli addressed the aftermath of those attacks in his video to Vatican Media. "We are still here in the parish with the people we care for." This includes families and "a considerable number" of elderly, sick and children.

"In other parts of Gaza City, there are people moving south," he said, emphasizing that "most of the population does not want to leave."

"Many say the same thing we have heard since the beginning of the war: everywhere there is danger, there is bombing, real danger, there is death, wounded, destruction," he said.

However, since many want to continue living in the city, he said, "we continue with our daily activities, which is what we can do. We have been able to help many families.