Catholic Palestinians pray for the Pope, who calls Gaza daily
Despite his condition, Pope Francis has upheld a tradition he began at the start of the war in Gaza, making nightly calls to the strip's only Catholic parish.
Despite being in critical condition as he battles double pneumonia, Pope Francis has upheld a tradition he began more than a year ago at the start of the war in the Gaza Strip, making nightly calls to the only Catholic parish in the enclave to offer words of support and prayer.
And now, as the ailing pontiff receives care at Rome's Gemelli hospital, Catholic Palestinians in Gaza are offering Francis their own prayers, with leaders and members of the Holy Family parish in northern Gaza praying for his recovery.
"Let’s unite in praying for the healing of Pope Francis," Yusuf Asad, a priest of the Holy Family parish, wrote in a post on Facebook early Tuesday as he offered a prayer for the 88-year-old pope's recovery, as he has done each day since Francis was admitted to hospital Feb. 14.
News of Francis' condition has sent shock waves through this small community in the Gaza Strip, with the Holy Family parish's prayers for him highlighting a deep bond formed between the pontiff and the Palestinian church throughout the devastating war.
Since two days after Israeli bombings began in the Gaza Strip following the Hamas-led terrorist attacks of Oct. 7, 2023, Francis has made nightly calls to Gabriele Romanelli, parish priest of the Holy Family parish in Gaza, as well as to Asad, Romanelli's assistant, according to Vatican News.
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