Fr Gabriel Romanelli, parish priest of Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza is pictured above.
Justice & Peace Scotland
Many of our supporters will remember when Justice & Peace Scotland, alongside the Archdiocese of Glasgow and SCIAF, welcomed Fr Gabriel Romanelli, the parish priest of the Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza, to Scotland.
He came with a heartfelt plea for peace in the lands of Palestine and Israel, and to share the daily reality of his suffering community.
We were heartbroken to learn that the Holy Family Church has been hit by an Israeli strike. Many were injured, including Fr Gabriel himself.
In a statement, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said: “The Holy Family Church in Gaza has been struck by a raid. There are several injuries in the place, including the Parish Priest, Father Gabriel Romanelli.”
Attacks on civilian populations like this one have been happening for months in Gaza. They are unacceptable.
“From the outset of this war, we have called for a ceasefire, echoing the words of the late Pope Francis, ‘Wars are always a defeat,’ and the powerful appeal of our new Pope Leo.
The Pope said: “Today more than ever, humanity cries out and pleads for peace.”
When Fr Gabriel was in Scotland, his message was simple and urgent: “I am the parish priest of the only Catholic Church in Gaza, and I come here to ask you to do everything you can to stop this war. Work for peace in any way you can. Pray for peace in any way you can.”
Justice & Peace Scotland urged all supporters of the campaign for peace to please contact their MP and MSP, telling them this and asking them what they are doing to advocate for an immediate ceasefire.
They added: “We ask you also to pray for Fr Gabriel and the entire parish community. May they know they are not alone, that their brothers and sisters in Christ across the world know they are there, that we remember them and we hold them in prayerful solidarity.”
Pope Leo had this to say: “Even in these days, distressing news continues to arrive from the Middle East, particularly from Gaza.
“I express my profound sorrow for the attack carried out by the Israeli army against the Catholic parish of the Holy Family in Gaza City. As you know, last Thursday it resulted in the deaths of three Christians and the serious injury of others.
“I am praying for the victims—Saad Issa Kostandi Salameh, Foumia Issa Latif Ayyad, and Najwa Ibrahim Latif Abu Daoud—and I am especially close to their families and all the parishioners.
“Tragically, this act adds to the ongoing military assaults on civilians and places of worship in Gaza.
“Once again, I call for an immediate end to the barbarity of war and for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
“I appeal to the international community to uphold humanitarian law, to fulfill the obligation to protect civilians, and to respect the prohibitions against collective punishment, indiscriminate use of force, and forced displacement of the population.
“To our beloved Middle Eastern Christians I say: I am close to you in your feeling of helplessness before such a dramatic situation. You are in the heart of the Pope and of the whole Church. Thank you for your witness of faith. May the Virgin Mary, Woman of the East, dawn of the new Sun that has risen in history, always protect you and guide the world toward the dawn of peace.”
J&P members have added their voices to Pope Leo’s the call.
James Slaven said: “I was honoured last April to meet this most peaceful, humble and remarkable man and to hear the message he delivered. God Bless him, his parishioners and all who are struggling daily for survival in Palestine. Mary McGowan added: “I remember Fr Romanelli speaking so fervently of maintaining Hope. The Holy Family Church has been a beacon of light throughout these awful months.”
Glasgow Churches Together urged Scots: ” Please pray for Fr Gabriel and the whole community of Holy Family and beyond.”
Tuesday October 15th 2024: Church of Scotland Moderator Designate 2025. Rev Rosie Frew photographed at Bowden Kirk, Scottish Borders.
Kirk moderator the Rt Rev Rosie Frew and Pope Leo X1V.
Church of Scotland
Rt Rev Rosie Frew, Moderator of the General Assembly, has echoed the call by Pope Leo XIV on Sunday to pray for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and for the international community to take action to bring about peace.
Pope Leo expressed deep sorrow after last week’s attack on the Holy Family Church in Gaza and called for “an immediate halt to the barbarity of the war” and for “a peaceful resolution of the conflict”. In turn, he urged the international community to observe humanitarian law and to respect the obligation to protect civilians, including “the prohibition against collective punishment, indiscriminate use of force and forced displacement of the population”.
“The world can’t take it any more”, the Pope said. “There is so much conflict, so many wars”.
Reinforcing Pope Leo’s message the Moderator said, “We continue to pray for peace and an end to violence, and for a resolution to this devastating conflict. In the midst of this humanitarian tragedy, we remember the churches that continue to bear witness to the love, justice, mercy and peace of God, and to live out their vocation to be the people of God.”