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Pope Francis died on Monday, April 21, after being released from hospital on March 23, following a five-week stay which saw him struggle with double pneumonia and its various complications. He was 88-years-old. Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, with the name Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Pope Francis was elected as the successor to Pope Benedict XVI in 2013. He was the first non-European Pope in 1,200 years, and was noted for his calls for peace amid global conflict.
As Pope Francis is remembered for his outreach to communities far beyond the Vatican, his relationship with the Holy Family parish in Gaza stands out. The Pope made daily calls to the tiny parish thousands of miles away from his home, starting the practice shortly after the onset of the Israel-Hamas War on Oct. 7, 2023.
Now, following Pope Francis’ death, the parish and its congregation are honoring the special relationship they shared with the religious leader.
“We lost a saint who taught us every day how to be brave, how to keep patient and stay strong. We lost a man who fought every day in every direction to protect this small herd of his,” George Antone, head of the emergency committee at the Holy Family church in Gaza, told Reuters. “We are heartbroken because of the death of Pope Francis, but we know that he is leaving behind a church that cares for us and that knows us by name—every single one of us. He used to tell each one: I am with you, don’t be afraid.”
In a video posted on Feb. 26 to the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem’s website, Father Gabriel Romanelli of the Holy Family parish in Gaza shared how he rejoiced when the Pope called them again.
“That blessed call, as he did every day from the beginning of this…
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