CNA explains: Pope Francis still calls Gaza parish every night

CNA Staff, Feb 28, 2025 / 12:20 pm

Pope Francis has continued his daily call to the only Catholic parish in the Gaza Strip despite his continued hospitalization.

The pope was admitted to the hospital on Feb. 14 and is reportedly improving after medical staff initially said he was in critical condition.

Why does the pope call Holy Family Parish in Gaza?

Holy Family Parish in Gaza has become a refuge for the Christian minority in war-torn Gaza. The parish complex was converted into an improvised shelter at the beginning of the war between the terrorist group Hamas and Israel, which began nearly a year and a half ago when Hamas launched an invasion of Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. The attack resulted in the brutal killing of men, women, and children, and the taking of more than 200 hostages.

The parish is a makeshift home to 500 people: mostly Orthodox, Protestant, and Catholic Christians but also some Muslim children and their families. 

Pope Francis has called Father Gabriel Romanelli, the parish priest at Holy Family, and his assistant, Yusuf Assad, almost every day since Oct. 9, 2023. 

The Holy Father called the parish earlier this week but has missed several days recently due to his health and hospitalization.

The calls are simple check-ins via WhatsApp, usually lasting about a minute. The parish has grown to expect the nightly calls. 

Children call him ‘the grandfather’

Latin patriarch of Jerusalem Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa shared in December 2024 that Pope Francis is known by the children of Holy Family Church in Gaza as “the grandfather.” 

Gaza’s time zone is only one hour ahead of Vatican City, so the calls usually come at about 7 p.m. 

Pizzaballa said the phone calls from the Holy Father have been a “psychological, emotional, and spiritual” support for the small community. 

During the calls, Pope Francis has assured the parish of his prayers and support. 

Romanelli shared how he was able to speak with Pope Francis on Tuesday despite the pontiff’s continued hospitalization.

“As he did every day from the beginning of this terrible war, Pope Francis has called us once again to show his closeness, to pray for us, and to give us his blessing,” the parish priest said in a video message posted on the website of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

“As the Parish of the Holy Family of Gaza, which belongs to the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, we rejoice to hear his voice,” Romanelli added. 

Pope Francis began calling the Church on Oct. 9, 2023, just days after the attacks. 

Romanelli said at the time that Pope Francis shared “his closeness and prayers for the entire Church community of Gaza and all the parishioners and inhabitants.”