Fr. Gabriel Romanelli, the Argentine pastor of the only Catholic parish in Gaza, says his community is living “between bombings and blessings.” Speaking this week from the Church of the Holy Family, he described the daily struggle of caring for hundreds of displaced people while war continues to devastate the territory.
More than 450 refugees — among them children, the elderly, and the sick — are taking shelter inside the parish compound.
“We are trying to support them as best as possible,” Romanelli explained in a recent video message. “But the deaths keep rising, the wounded are countless, and humanitarian aid arrives in drops.”
According to his account, over 62,000 people have been killed since fighting intensified last year, including at least 18,000 children, with more than 160,000 injured.
In the midst of this, Fr. Romanelli revealed a deeply personal moment: a phone call from Pope Leo XIV. The Holy Father, he said, wanted to know how the parish was enduring the crisis.
“We told him we are well, even though the situation is very difficult. The majority of the population does not want to leave,” Romanelli reported.
While Israel continues to issue evacuation orders, a joint statement from the Holy Land patriarchs noted that for the elderly and disabled to try to leave was already a "death sentence."
The Pope offered his blessing and promised prayers for the entire community in Gaza. Vatican News confirmed the conversation, noting the Pope’s “closeness and fatherly concern.”
Despite the anguish, small signs of life continue to break through. Fr. Romanelli recounted two moments of joy within the parish walls: a wedding celebrated by a Catholic couple, and the birth of a baby named Marcos among the displaced families.
“Even in the darkest hour, the Lord sends us light,” he said.
This is not the first time Holy Family parish has drawn international attention. Earlier this summer, an Israeli strike on the parish compound killed three and wounded others, including Fr. Romanelli himself. The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Vatican both condemned the attack, calling for stronger guarantees to protect civilians and places of worship.
For the priest, however, the greatest urgency remains opening humanitarian corridors so aid can reach families more effectively.
“People are suffering things that cannot be described,” he insisted, adding that the resilience of Gaza’s Christians and their neighbors is rooted not in political calculation but in fidelity to their homes and to each other.
With his parish still sheltering hundreds, and with a Pope on the phone encouraging them to stand firm, Fr. Romanelli’s witness has become a symbol of endurance. Between the roar of explosions and the cries of a newborn, Holy Family parish continues to show what it means to stay, to pray, and to serve.
