Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Catholic Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem and his Greek Orthodox counterpart, Theophilos III, have led a delegation to the Holy Family Church, Gaza’s only Roman Catholic church.
The visit came after an Israeli tank struck the Catholic church on Thursday, July 17, 2025, killing at least three people and injuring 10.
The ten people who were wounded in the shelling, included Gabriel Romanelli, the church’s priest, who used to receive daily calls from the late Pope Francis. He suffered light injuries to his right leg. The shelling triggered international condemnation.
Israel granted the two senior Christian leaders rare access to Gaza after the Israeli strike on the Palestinian killed three people.
Israeli authorities, which strictly control access to the besieged territory, permitted the visit after Benjamin Netanyahu said that his country “deeply regrets” the strike on the church, where hundreds of Palestinians, including children and people with disabilities, have been sheltering.
The Israeli Prime Minister blamed the strike on a “stray” tank round, without providing evidence.
Netanyahu called Pope Leo on Friday morning and during the conversation the pontiff reiterated his appeal for “a renewed impetus to negotiations, for a ceasefire and for an end to the war”, the Vatican said in a statement.
Leo also expressed concern over the “dramatic” humanitarian situation in Gaza and stressed the urgent need to protect places of worship, the faithful and all people in the Palestinian territories and Israel, the statement added.
Pizzaballa and Theophilos, who last week travelled to the occupied West Bank after an attack on a Byzantine-era church blamed on Israeli settlers, met local Christians.
As they entered the enclave, Pizzaballa received a call from Leo, who was elected as successor to Francis in May.
“Pope Leo repeatedly stated that it is time to stop this slaughter, that what has happened is unjustifiable, and that we must ensure there are no more victims,” he told Vatican News.
In a statement on Thursday, the Pope had called for “an immediate ceasefire” in Gaza and expressed his “profound hope for dialogue, reconciliation and enduring peace in the region”.
According to a statement from the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, the Latin Patriarch will assess the “humanitarian and pastoral needs of the community to help guide the Church’s continued presence and response”.
A Powerful Expression Of Church Unity
The Greek Orthodox patriarchate said the visit was “a powerful expression” of church unity and solidarity. Among the delegation were representatives from more than 20 countries, including Jordan, Russia, China, the EU, Japan and Canada.
Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa says his visit to Gaza aims to show Palestinians they “are not neglected, not forgotten”, particularly after yesterday’s deadly Israeli bombing of the Holy Family Church in Gaza City.
“We will do everything in order to be all as close to you and to support all of you,” Pizzaballa said.
“I can assure from you the prayer also of [His] Holiness Pope Leo XIV, that called today, knowing that we are going to enter [Gaza], and he brings also his blessing to all of us, to all of you.”
As part of the visit, tonnes of food supplies, first aid kits and medical equipment were delivered to Gaza, it added.
Italy’s foreign minister, Antonio Tajani, said the group arrived with 500 tonnes of aid for local civilians.
“The Italian government calls on Israel to stop military 6actions and to fully guarantee the safety of the two envoys in their important mission,” Tajani said.
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