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Fr Gabriel Romanelli, pastor of the Latin-rite Church of the Holy Family in Gaza, spoke to Vatican News recently about the church community's unceasing prayers for peace, and how Pope Francis' continued phone calls mean so much to them as they continue to "live in a cage."

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"Reflecting on living conditions in the area, he highlighted that the Christian community is “well, thank God and thanks to the constant help of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem."

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Living together with 500 refugees and Muslim neighbours from the Zeitoun neighbourhood, he added:

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"we are okay for now [but] everything is starting to run out... we help everyone, Christians and non-Christians alike. We try to truly be instruments of peace for all."

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Fr Romanelli acknowledged that the people of Gaza are trying not to give in to despair, "we count on the help of the Lord" he said: "and on people of good will who truly desire peace."

In a message issued for the 5th Sunday of Lent, Pope Francis continued his tireless call for peace in South Sudan, Congo, Ukraine, the Middle East and Gaza, “where people are reduced to living in unimaginable conditions, without shelter, without food, without drinking water”. As part of the message, the Pope highlighted the need for dialogue, the release of hostages and for “arms to be silenced”.

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‍Source: Vatican News