By Antonella Palermo and Deborah Castellano Lubov | Vatican News | April 2025
Fr. Gabriel Romanelli, pastor of the Latin-rite Church of the Holy Family in Gaza, has described life in the war-torn region as being trapped in a “giant cage.” Speaking in a phone interview with Vatican News, the Argentinian priest shared his community’s pain, resilience, and the profound impact of Pope Francis’ continued outreach amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
“In our traumatic reality, where we essentially live in a cage, Pope Francis’ calls mean so much to us,” Fr. Romanelli said, speaking from the parish compound where hundreds of refugees have taken shelter.
Despite the dire circumstances, Fr. Romanelli and his community remain rooted in prayer and acts of solidarity. When Pope Francis recently called the parish, the atmosphere transformed into one of joyful surprise. “The children and young people started shouting ‘Viva il Papa!’ in Arabic and Italian,” he recounted. “The Pope greeted us, asked how we were doing, how the people were. His voice brought us comfort.”
The Holy Father has repeatedly called for peace in Gaza, including during his Angelus on April 6, where he decried the “unimaginable” living conditions in the Strip. Fr. Romanelli echoed this sentiment, saying: “Everything is starting to run out. Food, water, medicine—it’s all extremely urgent. Gaza is a prison—it’s become a cage.”
The priest emphasized the need for global action and dialogue to end the violence. “As long as this armed conflict continues, no problem will truly be resolved,” he warned, urging world leaders to seek peace that genuinely serves the needs of both Palestinians and Israelis.
Despite the hardships, the parish continues to care for more than 500 displaced persons, Christians and Muslims alike. “We try to be instruments of peace for all,” Fr. Romanelli said. “It is truly a Lent with a heavy cross for the people of Gaza. But we count on the help of the Lord and on people of goodwill who truly desire peace.”
This powerful testimony from Gaza’s only Catholic parish highlights the ongoing humanitarian and spiritual crisis unfolding in the region and the urgent plea for peace from those living through its consequences.
Sources:
- Palermo, A., & Castellano Lubov, D. (2025, April). Gaza pastor: ‘We live in a cage’. Vatican News. Retrieved from https://www.vaticannews.va/en.html
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