Pope Tells Netanyahu To Protect Holy Sites And End War After Deadly Gaza Church Strike

Last Updated:July 18, 2025, 19:03 IST

The Vatican said in a statement that the Pope and Netanyahu spoke on the phone on Friday morning. The conversation was initiated by Israeli PM

During the call, the Pope repeated his appeal for a ceasefire and the urgent need to restart peace negotiations. (AFP file photos)

Pope Leo XIV on Friday told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to protect places of worship and end the ongoing war in Gaza. The call came a day after an Israeli airstrike hit the Holy Family Church in Gaza City, the only Catholic church in the region, killing at least three people and provoked international condemnation.

The Vatican said in a statement that the Pope and Netanyahu spoke on the phone on Friday morning. The conversation was initiated by Netanyahu. During the call, the Pope repeated his appeal for a ceasefire and the urgent need to restart peace negotiations.

“During the conversation, the Holy Father renewed his appeal to revive negotiations and reach a ceasefire and the end of the war," the Vatican said.

The Pope, speaking from his summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, also expressed concern about the “dramatic humanitarian situation" in Gaza. He said the suffering of civilians — especially children, the elderly, and the sick — must not be ignored.

Pope Leo further stressed the importance of protecting places of worship and ensuring the safety of the faithful in both Palestine and Israel. His message came amid global outrage over the attack on the Holy Family Church compound.

Netanyahu expressed “deep regret" over the incident during the call, blaming it on a “stray round." His spokesperson described the conversation with the Pope as “friendly," and added that the two leaders agreed to meet soon.

Following the strike, the Israeli foreign ministry said it was investigating the damage. “Israel never targets churches or religious sites and regrets any harm to a religious site or to uninvolved civilians," the ministry stated.

The Catholic Church reported that about 135 Catholics live in Gaza, among roughly 1,000 Christians in the territory. Most of the Christian population is Orthodox.

In response to the attack, two of Jerusalem’s top Christian leaders — Catholic Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa and Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III — travelled to Gaza on Friday to meet local Christians and offer support.

The ongoing war began after Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on 7 October 2023. Since then, Israeli airstrikes have killed more than 58,000 Palestinians, according to health officials in Gaza, while over 1,200 people were killed in Israel during the initial Hamas assault.

(With inputs from AFP)

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