Gaza’s Christians recall Pope Francis’ final message of peace
As the war in Gaza looks set to intensify, with an expanded offensive anticipated, the region’s Christians have been remembering the late Pope Francis and his final phone conversation with them, in which he called for peace and justice in the Holy Land.
Fr Gabriel Romanelli of the Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza described on SAT-7 ARABIC program You Are Not Alone how Pope Francis called the Christians sheltering there every evening.
“The last time he called us was Easter Eve just before we started mass. He thanked us for our prayers for him and told us that he prayed for us and blessed us,” Fr Romanelli said. “It was a short call, but he said he wanted us to know that he is with us and prays for us and works for peace and justice in the region… He called for the end of the war and the release of hostages and for human aid to get into Gaza, because the situation here is catastrophic.”
Following his death on 21 April, the Vatican released a short video that showed the Pope’s close relationship with Gaza’s small Christian community. The Holy Family Catholic Church has been sheltering around 1,000 Christians throughout the war, as well as some Muslims from the local neighbourhood, including children with special needs.
Fr Romanelli said that the Pope’s phone calls were welcomed by everyone there. “He always thanked us and encouraged us to serve everyone in need. He would ask how we were and how the children were. He asked us to protect the children, the aged and the sick.
“In these difficult times his calls were comforting and hopeful. He asked for peace for all. He asked for human dignity… He knew our names. He would call every day for a year and a half. Even after he came out of hospital, he called.”
TRIBUTES
You Are Not Alone also heard from Sheikh Dr Mohammad Nokari of Al-Azhar University, a prominent figure in interfaith dialogue between Muslims and Christians. “As a Muslim, I mourn the loss of Pope Francis, because he was the pope of dialogue, humanity, the poor, the destitute and the oppressed. I hope the next pope is similar to Pope Francis, because he turned dialogue into a document on human fraternity.”
Other SAT-7 programs have been marking Pope Francis’ impact in the Middle East and North Africa over many years, highlighting the visits he made to different countries at key times, and the relationships he established with leaders from various Christian denominations and other religious figures.
On Good Morning Beirut, Rev. Basman George Fatoohi of the Chaldean Church of the Ascension in Baghdad described the Pope’s significant visit to Iraq in 2021, which the latter had insisted on making despite security threats. Pope Francis brought a message of hope and comfort to people in Mosul and Qaraqosh, cities that had been overrun by the so-called Islamic State terrorist group in 2014.
SAT-7 will be covering the conclave, which starts on Wednesday 7 May, in which 133 cardinals will choose a new pope. The funeral of Pope Francis was also broadcast on SAT-7, and several programs have been paying tribute to his life and legacy.
