Pope Leo XIV sends condolences to Gaza after airstrike kills five

Pope Leo XIV has issued a message of condolence to Father Gabriel Romanelli, pastor of the Holy Family Parish in Gaza City, following an Israeli airstrike that killed five people. Among the deceased were Maysa Khader Ibrahim Abu Daoud and her daughter, Mary Hafez Michel Najjar, two Greek Orthodox women who had recently sought refuge in the area.

The strike targeted a residential building in the Rimal neighborhood of western Gaza City in the early hours of October 3, 2026. While the Israeli military stated the target was a Hamas leader or command center, local reports confirmed the deaths of the mother and daughter. The two women were noted for their service to parishioners and displaced persons sheltering at the Holy Family Church.

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, also expressed condolences on behalf of the clergy. The funeral for the victims was held at St. Porphyrios Greek Orthodox Church, with local religious leaders offering prayers for the deceased and the broader community.