In his daily phone call to Holy Family Parish in Gaza on Tuesday, Pope Francis said parishioners were “happy” following the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Source: Vatican News.
The Pope made the comment during his general audience at the Vatican yesterday.
“Yesterday, I called the parish in Gaza, as I do every day. Inside, there are 600 people in the parish and the school. And they told me, ‘Today, we ate lentils with chicken – something we weren’t used to in these times. Just some vegetables, a little something’. They were happy.”
The Holy Family Parish in Gaza is led by Argentine-born Fr Gabriel Romanelli and his assistant, Egyptian-born Father Yusuf Asad.
The Pope, who has frequently spoken with Fr Romanelli throughout the nearly 15 months of violence, fear, and hunger, expressed his appreciation for the parishioners having returned to a semblance of normality with the ceasefire agreement that went into force on Sunday.
During the first hours of the ceasefire, Fr Romanelli described how life was gradually returning to normal. He referred to it as “a step toward peace” and emphasised the Pope’s closeness to them.
Throughout the conflict, at about 7pm each day, the Pope would call the parish to pray, offer his blessing, and inquire about each person at the parish.
Francis yesterday renewed his invitation for the faithful to pray for Gaza, Ukraine, the Middle East, and Myanmar, saying, “Let us pray for Gaza, for peace there, and in so many parts of the world.”
Reiterating that war is always a defeat and calling for prayers for peace, he observed that the only ones who “profit” from war are the arms manufacturers.
Reflecting on Ukraine, Pope Francis specifically highlighted the plight of the elderly. “Remember in your prayers the elderly in Ukraine, who are living through the tragedy of war.”
FULL STORY
Pope: ‘I called the parish in Gaza; they are happy. Pray for peace’ (By Deborah Castellano Lubov and Salvatore Cernuzio, Vatican News)
