The Vatican Has Revealed That Pope Francis Has Been Calling A Church In Gaza Every Night For 15 Months
The Vatican described the Pope's calls as a way to bring hope and comfort to people in Gaza during the war.
The Vatican has revealed that Pope Francis has been making calls to a church in Gaza every evening for 15 months since Oct. 9, 2023, two days after Israel began its genocide in Gaza that has killed more than 47,306 people, mostly women and children.
During these calls, Pope Francis speaks personally with the members at the Holy Family Parish in Gaza, asking about their daily lives and offering his blessings.
The Holy Family Parish has provided shelter for more than 600 people, including Christians and Muslims, who sought safety from Israel’s relentless bombardment and airstrikes during the 15 months of war in Gaza.
The Vatican released footage of the pope’s call on Wednesday, Jan. 22, which occurred just days after the ceasefire began on Jan. 19.
In the video, the Pope can be seen speaking with Father Youssef, the parish priest, and Father Gabriel and asking about their dinner.
A few seconds later, children, women and other men also approached the screen to greet the Pope.
In one interaction, the Pope greeted a local doctor by saying "Salaamu Alaykum," a traditional Muslim greeting meaning "peace be upon you,” to which the doctor responded in Arabic.
The call ended with Father Youssef thanking the Pope for his prayers and support.
In response, the Pope joked, "Pray in my favor, not against me!" which made everyone laugh.
The Vatican described these calls as a way to bring hope and comfort to people in Gaza during the war.
Pope Francis has condemned the violence in Gaza on several occasions, calling Israel’s actions in Gaza “terrorism”.
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