On the morning of Friday, 18 July 2025, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem issued the following statement:
"In the aftermath of the grievous strike on the Holy Family Church compound in Gaza, His Beatitude Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, together with His Beatitude Theophilos III, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, entered Gaza this morning as part of an ecclesiastical delegation, expressing the shared pastoral solicitude of the Churches of the Holy Land and their concern for the community of Gaza.
During their stay, the delegation will meet with members of the local Christian community, offer condolences and solidarity, and stand alongside those affected by the recent events. His Beatitude Cardinal Pizzaballa will personally assess the humanitarian and pastoral needs of the community, to help guide the Church’s continued presence and response.
At the request of the Latin Patriarchate, and in coordination with humanitarian partners, access was secured for the delivery of essential assistance not only to the Christian Community but also to as many families as possible. This includes hundreds of tons of food supplies as well as first aid kits and urgently needed medical equipment. In addition, the Patriarchate ensured the evacuation of individuals injured in the attack to medical institutions outside Gaza where they will receive care.
We thank His Holiness Pope Leo XIV who called Cardinal Pizzaballa and Patriarch Theophilos upon entrance to Gaza to offer his support, closeness and prayers. We pray for the safety of the delegation and the suspension of military activities during the visit. The Latin Patriarchate remains steadfast in its commitment to the Christian community and the entire population of Gaza. They will not be forgotten, nor will they be abandoned"
“On our way, right at the border with Gaza,” Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa recounted, “as the Greek Orthodox Patriarch and I, together with our delegation, were heading into Gaza for a solidarity visit to the parish, to the families of the victims, and to the entire community, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV called to express his closeness, affection, prayer, and support—along with his intention to do everything possible to bring not only a ceasefire, but an end to this tragedy.”
“Pope Leo repeated several times that it is time to put an end to this massacre, and that what has happened is unjustifiable. Everything must be done to ensure there are no more victims. On behalf of the Latin Patriarchate and of all the Churches of the Holy Land, we wish to thank His Holiness for this closeness and for his prayer, which we were already assured of previously. We also assure him, on behalf of the entire Gaza community—brothers and sisters, priests, and religious men and women—of our prayer and gratitude,” explained the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem.
Pope Leo XIV has stated that he will do everything in his power to bring an end to the senseless slaughter of innocents. The Holy Father also contacted the Provincial Superior of the Institute of the Incarnate Word, Fr. Carlos Ferrero—the institute to which Fr. Gabriel Romanelli belongs—expressing his solidarity with the entire community, the religious, and the faithful who were with him. To each of them, Pope Leo assures his prayers and his unwavering commitment to peace, the only path capable of preserving the humanity of all parties involved in the conflict.