After praying the midday Angelus this July 20 at Castel Gandolfo, the Pope made another mention of last week's attack on the only parish in Gaza, which resulted in the deaths of three people and several injuries. The Pope spoke with the Israeli prime minister by phone shortly after the attack.
Today, the Pope named the three victims and had a message for Christians there: "To our beloved Christians in the Middle East, I say: I am close to your sense of helplessness in the face of this dramatic situation. You are in the heart of the Pope and of the whole Church."
Here's what he said about the situation:
~
Dramatic news continues to arrive from the Middle East, particularly from Gaza.
I express my deep sorrow for the Israeli army's attack on the Catholic parish of the Holy Family in Gaza City, which, as you know, caused the death of three Christians and seriously wounded others last Thursday. I pray for the victims, Saad Issa Kostandi Salameh, Foumia Issa Latif Ayyad, and Najwa Ibrahim Latif Abu Daoud, and I am particularly close to their families and all the parishioners. Unfortunately, this act adds to the ongoing military attacks against the civilian population and places of worship in Gaza.
I call once again for an immediate end to the barbarity of war and for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
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, indiscriminate use of force, and forced displacement of the population.
To our beloved Christians in the Middle East, I say: I am close to your sense of helplessness in the face of this dramatic situation. You are in the heart of the Pope and of the whole Church. Thank you for your witness of faith.
May the Virgin Mary, woman of the East, dawn of the new Sun that has risen in history, protect you always and accompany the world towards the dawn of peace.
