“It is absolutely essential that the war stops”

The Cry of Gaza’s Parish Priest Although the media attention has died down since the ceasefire, the Gaza Strip continues to sink into an unprecedented humanitarian and health crisis. Speaking to Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), Gaza’s Catholic priest, Fr. Gabriel Romanelli, described the “very serious” conditions marked by the daily suffering of …

Gaza prepares for a Christmas without peace, but not without hope

As Christmas approaches, the priest of the only Catholic parish in Gaza, Fr. Gabriel Romanelli, tells Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) that his community is attempting to keep the “flame of hope” alive, and thanks benefactors for the material and spiritual support they provide to the Holy Land. “Our situation is better than …

Gaza: October 12, first Sunday of Peace After the Ceasefire

The parish priest of Gaza called on his flock to “forgive all those who have failed and to ask forgiveness” for their own shortcomings, as preparation for what he hopes will be an end to this war. (Photo of the banner: a painted wall located more than a thousand kilometers away, in Beyrouth. a little …

Gaza: A first step towards peace after 733 days of war

As indirect talks continue in Egypt between Israeli envoys and Hamas, a cautious hope for the beginning of peace is taking root in the Diocese of the Holy Land. The parish priest of Gaza’s only Catholic parish shared with Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) the heavy toll of two years of war. “Two …

Christian clergy in Gaza defies evacuation orders to remain with their flocks

In a joint statement, the Latin Catholic and Greek Orthodox Patriarchs of Jerusalem call on both parties to end hostilities and allow families on both sides to begin to heal the wounds of war. (Photo of the banner: Already in 2024, people in Holy Family Parish were praying for peace.) Both the Catholic and the …

Parish priest after attack on Gaza’s only Catholic church: “Everything happened very quickly”

The Church of the Holy Family, the only Catholic church in the Gaza Strip, was hit last Thursday, July 17, in an attack that left its community mired in pain and uncertainty. A shell, according to initial reports, fired from an Israeli tank killed three people and wounded 15 more, including the parish priest, Father …

Attack on Catholic parish in Gaza: Aid to the Church in Need calls for prayers and support for the Holy Land

Montreal/Königstein, July 17, 2025 – The Catholic parish of the Holy Family in Gaza was severely damaged today in a raid. According to the Latin Patriarchate, three people were killed. Among the injured, the parish priest, Father Gabriel Romanelli, sustained a minor injury to his leg. The church suffered major structural damage, and the Christian …

Situation in Gaza still “very bad,” says priest. “No one is talking about rebuilding”

For three months, Gaza received no aid convoys, which meant that the parish had to ration the resources it had to feed the Christians within and some of the families that live nearby. The situation in Gaza, in the Holy Land, continues to be “very bad” according to Fr. Gabriel Romanelli, who is responsible for …

“One more day of war won’t solve the situation”

Parish priest of Holy Family in Gaza to Aid to the Church in Need Fr. Gabriel Romanelli says that living with 500 people in a closed compound is not easy, but that the Christians in Gaza consider themselves fortunate to have survived thus far and to be able to help thousands of other families in …

West Bank: “Honestly? The ceasefire has made the situation even worse”

Gaza is currently experiencing a fragile peace, but a visiting delegation from Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) found that the situation in the West Bank has not improved for Christians, who must struggle to find reasons to hope in the future. It takes around 20 minutes to drive from Ein ‘Arik to Ben …