Vatican City: Pope Francis made the last of his regular phone calls to the Holy Family Catholic parish in the Gaza Strip on Saturday, the parish priest, Father Gabriel Romanelli, said on Tuesday.
According to Ansa News Agency, the late pope, who died at the age of 88 on Monday, had been calling the parish almost daily since the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict, which began with the October 7 attacks. Despite his own health challenges, Pope Francis continued these calls even during critical days when he was hospitalized in Rome. Father Romanelli recounted, “It was Holy Saturday and we were preparing for the Easter Vigil when, at 7 p.m. our time, he telephoned us.”
Pope Francis consistently expressed his solidarity, offering words of consolation, blessings, and prayers for peace. Father Romanelli noted, “It was the last time we heard from him.” He emphasized the significance of the Pope’s mention of Gaza’s suffering during the Urbi et Orbi address on Easter Sunday, where he also made a plea to end the war.
The Gaza parish is experiencing a period of mourning. Father Romanelli shared that not only Catholics but also Orthodox Christians and Muslims have come forward to express their condolences, reflecting the deep impact of Pope Francis’ outreach to the region.
