# Pope Leo Prays for Gaza Victims

> Pope Leo XIV prays for Gaza victims after Israeli airstrike kills five, including two Orthodox women.
- Title: Pope Leo Prays for Gaza Victims · Vaticannews | Shortify
- Summary: Pope Leo XIV prays for Gaza victims after Israeli airstrike kills five, including two Orthodox women. Pope Leo XIV prayed for Gaza victims killed in Israeli…
- Keywords: pope leo xiv, gaza, israel, holy family church, greek orthodox, parish priest, cardinal pizzaballa, al-shifa hospital, humanitarian conditions, reopening school, religion, world
- Source: Vaticannews — https://vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2026-10/pope-leo-xiv-message-gaza-parish-priest-romanelli.html
- Author: Vatican News
- Published: 2026-10-05T13:34:13.114+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: pope leo xiv, gaza, israel, holy family church, greek orthodox, parish priest, cardinal pizzaballa, al-shifa hospital, humanitarian conditions, reopening school, religion, world
## Pope Leo XIV
Pope Leo XIV sends a message of condolence to the parish priest of Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza City after an Israeli strike kills five people, including two Christian women.
## Israeli Airstrike
The attack struck a residential building in the Rimal neighbourhood of western Gaza City in the early hours of Saturday, October 3, wounding numerous others.
## Victims
Among those killed were Maysa Khader Ibrahim Abu Daoud and her daughter, Mary Hafez Michel Najjar. The two Greek Orthodox women had recently found a new place of refuge and were trying to rebuild their lives.
## Pope's Prayer
‘How long, O Lord?’ In a message to Fr. Gabriel Romanelli, parish priest of Holy Family Church in Gaza, Pope Leo prayed for the victims and thanked him for his ministry.

> How long, O Lord?
## Cardinal Pizzaballa
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, expressed his condolences on behalf of the clergy and the diocese, condemning the loss of innocent lives.
## Humanitarian Conditions
According to medical sources at Al-Shifa Hospital, those wounded in the attack were in serious condition. The Israeli military said the strike targeted a Hamas command centre or leader.
## Key takeaway

Pope Leo XIV prayed for Gaza victims killed in Israeli airstrike, expressing sorrow and urging peace.