Cardinal Nichols condemns yesterday’s ‘appalling strike’ on Gaza’s Holy Family Catholic Church

Cardinal Vincent Nichols, President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales and Archbishop of Westminster, has condemned yesterday’s fatal attack on a Catholic church in Gaza that killed three parishioners and injured the parish priest.

Following the shelling by an Israeli tank of the Church of the Holy Family in Gaza with reports of three deaths, serious injuries, and extensive damage to church buildings, Cardinal Vincent Nichols said:

“I condemn this appalling strike on the Holy Family Church in Gaza, pray for the dead and injured, and stand in solidarity with Fr Gabriel Romanelli and the people sheltering in the compound – Christians and Muslims alike.

“For twenty months, the Church of the Holy Family has managed to be a place of sanctuary and spiritual support amidst the horrors of war, feeding and protecting hundreds of people.

“I add my voice to Pope Leo’s call for a return of hostages, and an immediate ceasefire to end the suffering in Gaza and bring peace to the region. I encourage you, in your homes and parishes, to pray for peace and an end to this war.”

In a press statement issued later in the day, Israel has said it “deeply regrets” three deaths at Gaza’s only Catholic church, adding that a “stray ammunition” hit the building.A statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said: “Every innocent life lost is a tragedy. We share the grief of the families and the faithful. Israel is investigating the incident and remains committed to protecting civilians and holy sites.”

A further nine people were injured in the incident at the Holy Family Church, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said earlier on Thursday. Parish priest Father Gabriele Romanelli, an Argentinian who used to regularly update the late Pope Francis about the conflict in Gaza, was lightly injured.

According to Vatican News, Pope Leo XIV and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu spoke by phone this morning (friday).

The Holy Father renewed his appeal for negotiations and a ceasefire in Gaza, according to the Holy See Press Office.

“This morning, in his residence at Castel Gandolfo, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV spoke by telephone with His Excellency Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel, following yesterday’s military attack by the Israeli army that struck the Church of the Holy Family in Gaza, killing three people and injuring others, including some seriously,” said the Press Office in a statement.

“During the conversation,” it noted, “the Holy Father repeated his appeal for a renewed push for negotiations, a ceasefire and an end to the war.”

Moreover, it added, Pope Leo “again expressed his concern about the tragic humanitarian situation of the population in Gaza, whose children, elderly, and sick are paying an agonizing price.”

“Finally,” the statement concluded, “the Holy Father reiterated the urgent need to protect places of worship and, especially, the faithful and all people in Palestine and Israel.”

The Holy Family Church has been a regular and well publicised refuge for Palestinian Christians since the war started, and has been under fire previously. When the current conflict in Gaza broke out, most of the Christian population took refuge in the Holy Family Catholic parish and in the neighbouring Orthodox compound.

The Holy Family has been looking after around 500 men, women and children, including a group with disabilities cared for by the Missionaries of Charity.

At least 16 Christians, including 10 from one family, were killed during an October 2023 raid, which caused the collapse of a building in the Greek Orthodox Church compound. The Catholic compound was also hit by bombs. Two more civilians were killed after an IDF sniper fired on the grounds of the Holy Family Church the following December.

Speaking to the charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) earlier this week, Father Romanelli stressed that the situation was still critical.

He said: “The situation at the municipality remains very, very serious. The bombings continue, as you know, in Rafah, in the south of the Strip, but also in the north – the area of Jabalia and other places as well. Another day of war – another hour of war – continues to complicate the lives of tens and hundreds of thousands of people.”

Father Romanelli underlined the importance of prayer: “We ask you to continue helping us – to pray a lot, and to encourage others to pray. To seek peace and justice by all means, and also to lend a hand to these poor people. May Our Lady give us the strength to sow peace and a little hope in these people, and may this come to an end as soon as possible.”

Pic: courtesy Aid the the Church in Need