Christian population in Gaza has halved in 21 months

And the Holy Family Church in Gaza was struck by an Israeli attack on July 17, with the strike resulting in three deaths and injuries among civilians present at the historic church. The pastor of the parish, Father Gabriel Romanelli, was also injured.

The direct strike killed three people, confirmed by the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem a few hours after the attack.

Fr Romanelli was wounded by shrapnel in his leg. His condition was described as mild, and he later returned to check on the wounded. According to church sources in Gaza, 14 people were injured in the attack.

The Israel Defense Forces said they were investigating the incident, the spokesperson for the Israeli Foreign Ministry, Oren Marmorstein, expressed his country’s “deep regret over the damage to the Holy Family Church in Gaza City and over any civilian casualties”.

Pope Leo XIV renewed his calls for “an immediate ceasefire” in Gaza following the attack.

In a telegram signed by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican Secretary of State on his behalf, the Holy Father expressed deep sorrow for the loss of life and for the injuries caused by the attack.

Before the attack, Fr Romanelli told Vatican Radio that as of October 7, 2023, there were 1017 Christians in Gaza.

“Around 300 managed to leave when the Rafah crossing to Egypt was still open. Fifty-four have died – sixteen were killed in the bombing of Saint Porphyrius Church of the Orthodox Patriarchate. Among our own faithful, elderly musician Elham Farah was killed in November 2023. A month later, Nahida and Samar – mother and daughter – were shot just outside the church. Others died due to the war itself – those suffering from heart disease, diabetes, and other conditions who no longer had access to vital medications,” Fr Romanelli recounted.

There are now about 500 Christians in Gaza, he said.

When asked what people are eating, Fr Romanelli said, “The aid we had stored during the truce [January to March] allowed us to sustain ourselves for the past few months, and even to help several Muslim families living in the neighbourhood of the parish. But after Israel halted humanitarian aid on March 3, nothing else has arrived. Since then, we’ve had to keep what remains for ourselves – and even then, we are rationing it carefully. Most of the homes near our parish compound are now empty. All around us, there is only death and destruction.”

Fr Romanelli said that deep fatigue and anxiety have settled over the community: “We feel almost entirely alone in this area. The only thing that keeps us together and gives us hope is prayer.

“To know that we are just a small part of something much greater – the universal Church – and to know that over a billion Christians around the world are praying for this small, suffering community gives us extraordinary resilience,” he said.

FULL STORY

Gaza’s Christian community persevering amid hardship and hope (By Roberto Cetera/Vatican News)

UPDATE: Latin Patriarchate confirms Holy Family Church in Gaza hit, 3 deaths reported | Catholic News Agency (CNA)

Pope renews call for ceasefire in Gaza after attack on Catholic parish – Vatican News (Vatican News)

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