Gaza. Father Romanelli (parish priest) to SIR: “The faith of our people is a glimmer of light in these times of darkness”

“I express my profound sadness regarding last Thursday’s attack by the Israeli army on the Catholic Parish of the Holy Family in Gaza City. 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… To our beloved Middle Eastern Christians, I say: I deeply sympathise with your feeling that you can do little in the face of this grave situation. You are in the heart of the Pope and of the whole Church. Thank you for your witness of faith.” Pope Leo XIV’s heartfelt words at Sunday’s Angelus prayer in Castel Gandolfo went straight to the heart of the Holy Family Church in Gaza. The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, and the Greek Orthodox Patriarch, Theophilus III, made a solidarity visit to the church on Friday. Of particular note was “the mention of the names of the three victims, Saad Issa Kostandi Salameh, Foumia Issa Latif Ayyad, and Najwa Ibrahim Latif Abu Daoud”, the parish priest, Father Gabriel Romanelli, himself among the wounded in the Israeli attack, told SIR. Cardinal Pizzaballa stayed there until Sunday, when he returned to Jerusalem. During his visit, he held numerous meetings, paid visits and joined the local Christian community in prayer. His visit “was a balm for our wounded community”, said Father Romanelli. In his homily at Sunday Mass, celebrated in the Gaza church which is still accessible despite its damaged façade next to the cross and its shattered windows, the Patriarch offered words of encouragement to the faithful: “In your presence, I see life. In this sea of destruction, life is present.” His passionate homily culminated as follows: “Our visit symbolises the love of the entire Church for you. Each time I come to visit you, I receive much more than I am able to give, and I return home feeling enriched. Remain united in Jesus. The whole world is looking at you. Continue to be a light here in Gaza, not just for yourselves and Gaza, but for all of us.” SIR interviewed the parish priest, Father Gabriel Romanelli, following Cardinal Pizzaballa’s visit, three days after the attack by the Israeli forces.

Father Gabriel, could you describe the situation in your church today, after the attack?

People’s lives have been shattered and the situation is extremely serious.

And yet, this darkness is pierced by an enduring light: the unwavering faith of our people.

Amidst the heartbreaking loss of life, especially that of children, since the onset of this war, there is also the remarkable resilience of those residing here. Amid so much sorrow, there are many who selflessly dedicate themselves to helping others. We are deeply moved by this. The visit of the patriarchs was a source of great consolation. As the patriarch said during yesterday’s Mass, they brought the solidarity of all the Churches in the world. It was a genuine demonstration of closeness.

Did Pope Leo XIV contact you?

Yes, he phoned us. He called the Patriarch and tried to contact us as well. I had no phone signal at the time, so I was unable to answer, but he spoke to Father Carlos and Father Youssef. The Pontiff conveyed his solidarity, his concern and extended his prayers for us. This happened on Friday morning and it was a great comfort to us.

What initiatives is the Church putting in place to support the local community?

The Church is doing everything it can to deliver aid. But the vast majority of the population has no access to food or water. For example, the heat index is currently 42 degrees Celsius. The situation is one of desperation and exhaustion, with the bombings continuing unabated. Amidst all this darkness, the Church is striving to ensure that at least some aid gets through. Sadly, we have not succeeded so far. We remain hopeful for the coming days, but the outlook is grim.

How is your Christian community coping with these challenging times?

We remain steadfast in our proclamation of Christ through our presence, our prayers, our mutual support and the help we offer our neighbours.

The whole world must understand that war cannot have the last word.

Yesterday, prayers were offered for all the victims of the war, all without distinction. We prayed for the freedom of those imprisoned and for the release of the hostages. We want peace. But stopping this war now is imperative.

Cardinal Pizzaballa was there with you. What is your impression of his visit?

It was profoundly significant. The Cardinal paid a solidarity visit to our church, to the Orthodox church and to the hospital, alongside the Greek Orthodox Patriarch. An especially moving moment occurred when one of the wounded, still in hospital, kissed the Patriarch’s pectoral cross. He is one of the two most seriously injured, having sustained a punctured lung. He was wounded in the bombing. They visited the newly renovated Caritas healthcare facility in the St. Thomas Aquinas centre, where they assessed the damage, and the school operated by the Sisters of the Rosary in Tal Al Hawa, in the southern part of Gaza City. The Patriarch bore witness to the extent of the devastation. On Sunday, he said prayers with us several times throughout the day: Adoration, the Rosary and Mass.

According to reports, the Patriarch brought tons of humanitarian aid…

No, this needs to be clarified. He did not bring any material aid. He arrived with only his personal belongings. He brought the blessings and consolation of the Church.

The media reported that he had brought tons of humanitarian aid, but this is not true. What is true, however, is that the Church is working tirelessly to ensure the timely delivery of relief supplies to the general population. So far, however, these efforts have not yielded any concrete results.

Did you expect such a direct attack?

No, it took us all by surprise. We weren’t expecting it. There had been military operations in our neighbourhood for 17 days. Although we tried to keep everyone inside, it was impossible to spend 17 days confined to a place without even a restroom. We inevitably had to go outside from time to time, albeit briefly. Even so, those sheltering indoors were injured, including myself, Father Youssef, my parish vicar, and our young postulant, Suhail Abo Dawood. The church was hit near the cross atop its facade. The metal shrapnel and debris caused injuries and deaths. The interior of the church thankfully remained intact. Only the stained-glass windows were destroyed.

How do you plan to move forward with your parish?

We intend to continue praying for the most vulnerable, to promote peace, asking the Lord to forgive all those accountable for this war.