Leaders from the Catholic and Greek Orthodox Church visited Gaza’s only Catholic church on Friday, amidst the ongoing conflict. The visit is highly unusual given Israel’s tight control over access in and out of the territory.
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa and Theophilos III expressed their support for Gaza’s Catholics and shared pastoral concerns for the community. They brought food aid and medical supplies to the territory, which faces a humanitarian crisis.
The church has become a shelter for Gaza’s tiny Christian community and others during the conflict. Over 600 people, mostly children, took refuge in the church before it was struck.
Pope Leo received a phone call from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in which he expressed his concern for protecting places of worship and renewed calls for a ceasefire. The international community has condemned the attack, including key ally the US.
Nearly 59,000 people have died during the conflict, with ceasefire talks remaining deadlocked. Dr. Fadl Naim questioned why those injured in the attack were able to leave while others are barred, sparking concerns about discriminatory treatment.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/07/18/middleeast/christian-leaders-gaza-church-intl