Pope Leo XIV has expressed “profound sorrow” over the death of a Maronite Catholic priest as a result of Israeli shelling in the Lebanese village where the cleric was ministering, and for all victims of ongoing violence in the Middle East. Source: Crux.
The Pope also renewed his appeal for an end to fighting throughout the region.
A statement from the press office of the Holy See conveyed the pontiff’s “profound sorrow for all the victims of the recent bombardments in the Middle East, for the many innocent people, including many children, and for those who helped them”.
The statement said the Pope “follows the events with concern and prays for a swift end to all hostilities”.
The statement specifically mentions Fr Pierre El-Rahi, a Maronite priest killed on Monday in the village of Qlayaa, in south Lebanon, reportedly by Israeli artillery fire.
Franciscan Fr Toufic Bou Merhi, a priest of the Franciscan of the Custody of the Holy Land, told Vatican Media Fr El-Rahi was injured while rushing to the aid of a parishioner who had been wounded in an attack on his house.
“There was a first attack, which hit a house near his parish, in the mountains, wounding one of the parishioners,” he said.
“Fr Pierre rushed with dozens of other young people to help the parishioner,” he said, “when there was another attack, another bombing on the same house.”
Fr El-Rahi was injured in that second attack and was rushed to a local hospital, he said.
The Franciscan said Fr El-Rahi “died almost at the hospital door.”
Southern Lebanon has seen significant violence in recent days, since the Iranian-supported Lebanese militant group Hezbollah launched attacks against Israel, drawing a sustained response from Israeli military forces.
Estimates say some 300 people have been killed and 1000 others wounded in the eight days since fighting between Hezbollah and Israeli forces recommenced.
The Israeli army has repeatedly issued evacuation orders for a large swathe of southern Lebanon.
Some 500,000 people have fled their homes, adding significant stress to an already difficult humanitarian situation.
Fr El-Rahi, however, was among those who chose to stay with his people.
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Pope Leo XIV: ‘Profound sorrow’ for slain priest, all suffering in Middle East (Crux)
