Pope Leo XIV expressed his closeness to those affected in Gaza by the Israel-Palestine conflict amid new attacks.

The pontiff sent a message to Holy Family Church in Gaza, near the Rimal neighborhood of western Gaza City, where Israeli airstrikes killed five civilians and wounded many others on Oct. 3. Among the victims, now buried, were two Orthodox women: Maysa Khader Ibrahim Abu Daoud and her daughter, Mary Hafez Michel Najjar.

According to Vatican News, Leo addressed the message to Father Gabriel Romanelli, the parish priest of Holy Family Church. Pope Francis also regularly wrote letters and made phone calls to Romanelli, expressing closeness to the parish and to Gaza victims until his death in 2025.

In his letter, Leo lamented the casualties among those affected by new airstrikes amid the continuation of the war.

“How long, O Lord?” Leo wrote in his letter.

“Since learning the painful news of the deaths of Maysa and Mary, I have been praying to God for them, for their families, and for the entire community of Gaza,” he added. “Thank you for accompanying the parish and so many people who wish to live in peace.”

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, also expressed his closeness to those affected by the recent attacks and his hope that hostilities will eventually end.

A profound relationship with Pope Francis

For approximately 19 months before his death, Francis maintained regular contact with Holy Family Church, the only Catholic church in the Gaza Strip.

Romanelli recalled to EWTN News that on April 19, two days before dying on April 21, Francis made a phone call to Romanelli.

“He told us he was praying for us, blessed us, and thanked us for our prayers on his behalf,” Romanelli said to EWTN News.

“We hope that his appeals won’t be ignored: that the bombing will stop, that this war will end, that the hostages will be released, and that humanitarian aid will reach those who are suffering.”