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If the Lord does not watch over the city, in vain does the watchman keep vigil.Ps 127:1

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Pope Leo XIV writes to Gaza priest after strike kills 5, including Christian mother, daughter

First source report

Catholic IntelligenceUpdated 1 min read

Pope Leo XIV sent a personal condolence message to Father Gabriel Romanelli, the pastor of Holy Family Parish in Gaza, following an Israeli airstrike that killed five people. The strike, which occurred in the early hours of October 3, hit a residential building in Gaza City and killed Maysa Khader Ibrahim Abu Daoud and her daughter, Mary Hafez Michel Najjar.

In a video update shared on October 4, Father Romanelli read the message from the pope. Writing a lament from Psalm 13, the pope asked how long the suffering would last and stated he was praying for the victims, their families, and everyone in Gaza. He thanked the pastor for remaining with the parish and the people seeking peace.

Ramzi Khouri, head of the Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs in Palestine, confirmed the deaths and noted that the two women had spent their time serving parishioners and displaced people sheltering at the Holy Family Church.

AI-assisted briefing based on the sources below.

4 sources38 reports20 languages

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Earlier version, Tuesday 6 October

Pope Leo XIV writes to Gaza priest after strike kills 5

Earlier version, Tuesday 6 October

Pope Leo XIV sends condolence message to Gaza priest

Earlier version, Monday 5 October

Pope Leo XIV writes to Father Romanelli after Gaza attack

Earlier version, Monday 5 October

Pope Leo XIV writes to Gaza priest after Israeli strike kills 5

How the coverage unfolded

  1. Oct 5, 3:16 AM Aleteia Gaza Christians, Pope mourn deaths of mother, daughter in Israeli air strike
  2. Oct 5, 6:18 AM OSV News Pope writes to Gaza priest after strike kills 5, including Christian mother, daughter
  3. Oct 5, 6:10 AM The Catholic Sun Pope writes to Gaza priest after strike kills 5, including Christian mother, daughter
  4. Oct 5, 8:29 AM National Catholic Reporter Pope writes to Gaza priest after strike kills 5, including Christian mother, daughter
  5. Oct 5, 12:00 PM Catholic Review Pope writes to Gaza priest after strike kills 5, including Christian mother, daughter
  6. Oct 5, 8:18 AM Vatican News Español Gaza, el Papa escribe al padre Romanelli tras el ataque: «¿Hasta cuándo, Señor?»
  7. Oct 5, 10:24 AM Opoka Polski Leon XIV po ataku na Gazę: „Jak długo, Panie?"
  8. Oct 5, 6:32 AM Vatican News Pope Leo prays for Gaza victims: ‘How long, O Lord?’
  9. Oct 5, 8:27 AM Vatican News ಕನ್ನಡ ಗಾಜಾ ಸಂತ್ರಸ್ತರಿಗಾಗಿ ಜಗದ್ಗುರು ಲಿಯೋರವರ ಪ್ರಾರ್ಥನೆ: ‘ಓ ಕರ್ತನೇ, ಇನ್ನೆಷ್ಟು ಕಾಲ?’.
  10. Oct 5, 1:08 PM America Pope Leo writes to Gaza priest after strike kills 5, including Christian mother, daughter: ‘How long, Lord?’
  11. Oct 5, 12:20 PM CathNews Australia Pope writes to Gaza priest after strike kills five
  12. Oct 5, 5:32 AM Diocese of Hallam Pope Leo prays for Gaza victims: ‘How long, O Lord?’
  13. Oct 5, 4:18 PM The Catholic Weekly Pope writes to Gaza priest after strike kills 5, including Christian mother, daughter
  14. Oct 4, 5:00 PM Abouna Pope Leo prays for Gaza victims: ‘How long, O Lord?’
  15. Oct 5, 7:27 AM Vatican News Polski Leon XIV po ataku na Gazę: „Jak długo, Panie?”
  16. Oct 6, 3:15 AM Niedziela Polski „Jak długo, Panie?”
  17. Oct 5, 5:06 AM Vatican News Português Papa escreve a Pe. Romanelli após ataque de sábado em Gaza: "até quando, Senhor?"
  18. Oct 5, 7:33 AM Vatican News Hrvatski Papa piše ocu Romanelliju nakon napada u Gazi: „Dokle, Gospodine?“
  19. Oct 5, 4:35 AM Vatican News Italiano Gaza, il Papa scrive a padre Romanelli dopo l'attacco: "Fino a quando, Signore?"
  20. Oct 5, 11:57 PM Vatican News Български Папа Лъв XIV се моли за жертвите в Газа: „Докога, Господи?“
  21. Oct 6, 1:29 AM Alfa y Omega Español «¿Hasta cuándo, Señor?»: el mensaje del Papa a Gaza tras la muerte de Maysa y Mary
  22. Oct 6, 2:02 AM Vatican News Slovenčina Pápež píše farárovi v Gaze po útoku: „Dokedy, Pane?“
  23. Oct 6, 2:59 AM La Croix Français « Jusqu’à quand, Seigneur ? » : Léon XIV prie pour les chrétiens de Gaza tués par une frappe
  24. Oct 6, 3:02 AM Vatican News Tiếng Việt Đức Thánh Cha cầu nguyện cho các nạn nhân Gaza: “Lạy Chúa, còn bao lâu nữa?”
  25. Oct 6, 2:39 AM Církev.cz Čeština Lev XIV. po útoku na Gazu: „Jak dlouho ještě, Pane?“
  26. Oct 6, 5:27 AM Vatican News العربية الأب رومانيلي يتحدث عن الرسالة التي تلقاها من قداسة البابا
  27. Oct 6, 6:56 AM Vatican News Slovenščina Sveti oče po izraelskem napadu pisal župniku v Gazi: »Do kdaj, Gospod?«
  28. Oct 6, 6:52 AM Newsbook Malti “Kemm se ddum, Mulej?” – Il-Papa Ljun b’reazzjoni għall-aħħar attakk f’Gaża
  29. Oct 6, 6:55 AM Rome Reports Leo XIV Sends Message to Gaza’s Only Parish Priest After Deadly Attack: “How long, Lord?”
  30. Oct 6, 7:48 AM Vatican News ትግርኛ ርእሰ ሊቃነ ጳጳሳት ልዮን መበል 14 ብዛዕባ ግዳያት ጋዛ፡ ‘ኣታ ጎይታ ክሳብ መዓስ?’ ኢሎም ይጽልዩ
  31. Oct 6, 7:13 AM Catholic News Agency ‘How long, O Lord?’: Pope Leo XIV laments new attacks on Gaza victims
  32. Oct 6, 6:27 AM Vatican News हिन्दी पोप लियो ने गज़ा के पीड़ितों के लिए प्रार्थना की : ‘हे प्रभु, कब तक?’
  33. Oct 6, 8:34 AM Katholiek Nieuwsblad Nederlands Dood christelijke moeder en dochter in Gaza raakt paus Leo XIV: ‘Hoe lang nog, Heer?’
  34. Oct 6, 2:10 AM Catholic World News Pope prays for Gaza victims: 'How long, O Lord?' (Vatican News)
  35. Oct 7, 1:26 AM Vatican News 中文 加沙再遭袭击，教宗致信本堂神父：“主啊，还要到何时？”
  36. Oct 7, 6:35 AM Vatican News தமிழ் காசா பாதிக்கப்பட்ட மக்களுக்காக திருத்தந்தை இறைவேண்டல்: “ஆண்டவரே, இன்னும் எத்துணைக் காலம்?”
  37. Oct 7, 8:24 AM The Monitor Pope writes to Gaza priest after strike kills 5, including Christian mother, daughter
  38. Oct 8, 12:16 AM The Irish Catholic Pope writes to Gaza priest after strike kills 5, including Christian mother, daughter

More on Pope Leo XIV

  1. Oct 31, 10:45 AM PT · 10 sources Pope Leo XIV appoints Bishop Francesco Cavina as Special Apostolic Visitator for Medjugorje
  2. Oct 31, 10:32 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Peru
  3. Oct 31, 10:17 AM PT · 8 sources Pope Leo XIV receives delegations from earthquake-affected municipalities in Central Italy
  4. Oct 31, 10:16 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV calls for renewed push to rebuild after earthquakes
  5. Oct 31, 10:15 AM PT Pope Leo XIV to visit Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru
  6. Oct 31, 9:55 AM PT · 12 sources Pope Leo XIV receives Villanova University and University of Notre Dame pilgrims
  7. Oct 31, 9:51 AM PT · 54 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru
  8. Oct 31, 9:48 AM PT · 10 sources Pope Leo XIV chooses theme for 101st World Mission Day
  9. Oct 31, 9:46 AM PT · 31 sources Pope Leo XIV votes by mail in US midterm election
  10. Oct 31, 9:45 AM PT · 13 sources Pope Leo XIV receives participants in Pontifical Academy for Life meeting
  11. Oct 31, 9:41 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV sets prayer intention for November 2026
  12. Oct 31, 9:07 AM PT · 4 sources Pope Leo XIV meets with Italian municipalities' representatives
  13. Oct 31, 8:38 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV selects theme for 101st World Mission Day
  14. Oct 31, 8:29 AM PT · 6 sources Pope Leo XIV Appoints New Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication
  15. Oct 31, 8:26 AM PT · 5 sources Pope Leo XIV meets Vatican AI conference participants
  16. Oct 31, 8:23 AM PT · 4 sources Pope Leo XIV: AI decisions on human life must never be delegated
  17. Oct 31, 8:15 AM PT · 5 sources Pope Leo XIV's charity reaches 2,000 children in Ukraine
  18. Oct 31, 8:00 AM PT · 14 sources Pope Leo XIV approves safeguards for Holy See employees
  19. Oct 31, 8:00 AM PT · 13 sources Pope Leo XIV appoints 2 Synod undersecretaries
  20. Oct 31, 7:31 AM PT · 14 sources Pope Leo XIV casts ballot in US midterm elections
  21. Oct 31, 7:31 AM PT · 2 sources Bishop Arturo Eduardo Fajardo expects Pope Leo XIV to revive faith in Uruguay
  22. Oct 31, 7:30 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Peru
  23. Oct 31, 6:56 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV presented with book on Eucharistic miracle
  24. Oct 31, 6:17 AM PT · 39 sources Pope Leo XIV sends video message to Assisi peace meeting
  25. Oct 31, 5:52 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV meets 7000 students

More coverage of Pope Leo XIV

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