In the midst of ongoing bloodshed in Gaza, Pope Leo XIV has issued a renewed and urgent appeal for an immediate ceasefire. His plea follows a tragic attack on the Holy Family Catholic Parish—the sole Catholic church in Gaza—which resulted in the deaths of two people and left several others injured, including the parish priest, Fr Gabriel Romanelli.

The strike on Thursday morning dealt a heavy blow to a community already on the edge of despair. For months, the church had functioned as a fragile sanctuary for hundreds of Christians and others seeking refuge from the conflict’s devastation.

The late Pope Francis, who had maintained daily contact with the parish until his death in April, frequently spoke of the Gaza church’s role as a “light in the darkness.” Pope Leo has continued that legacy. In a telegram sent directly to the parish, he conveyed his “spiritual closeness” to the victims and survivors and called once more for “dialogue, reconciliation, and enduring peace in the region.”

A Sanctuary Under Fire

The Holy Family Parish has been a place of safety in a war zone, a shelter for believers and non-believers alike. Cardinal Vincent Nichols, leader of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, described the attack as “appalling” and expressed solidarity with Fr Romanelli and those under his care.

“For twenty months,” Nichols noted, “the Church of the Holy Family has managed to be a place of sanctuary and spiritual support amidst the horrors of war, feeding and protecting hundreds of people, including Muslims.”

He joined Pope Leo in calling for “a return of hostages, and an immediate ceasefire to end the suffering in Gaza and bring peace to the region.” He also urged Christians worldwide to “pray for peace and an end to this war.”

Gaza’s Beleaguered Christian Community

Earlier this year, Fr Romanelli spoke to Aid to the Church in Need about the plight of Gaza’s Christian community. Once numbering several thousand, it now stands at around 1,000 believers—half of whom have sought refuge within the parish walls. “We live in extreme poverty,” Romanelli shared, “but we are lucky to be alive. Those in the church feel God’s protection even amidst unspeakable loss.”

For these Christians, the Holy Family Parish has not only been a physical refuge but also a spiritual haven where they gather for prayer, fellowship, and the sharing of meager resources.

A Reformed Perspective: Mourning and Praying Amid Conflict

As Reformed Christians, we mourn the suffering of all image-bearers of God caught in the crossfire of political and military strife. While our theological differences with Roman Catholicism are significant, we affirm the biblical command to “weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15) and to “pray for the peace of Jerusalem” (Psalm 122:6).

The conflict in Gaza reminds us of the brokenness of this world—a brokenness that will not be healed by ceasefires or human diplomacy alone but only through the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ. As the Westminster Shorter Catechism so rightly teaches, Christ “executes the office of a king, in subduing us to himself, in ruling and defending us, and in restraining and conquering all his and our enemies.”

It is in Christ’s ultimate reign that we place our hope—not in the fragile promises of political leaders.

How Should We Respond?

In light of these events, the church’s response must be shaped by Scripture:

Pray for Peace: Pray for the protection of the innocent, the repentance of aggressors, and the ultimate peace that only Christ can bring.

Support the Persecuted Church: Remember the suffering saints in Gaza and elsewhere. Consider supporting trustworthy ministries that provide aid without compromising the gospel.

Hold Fast to the Gospel: Wars and rumors of wars will continue until Christ returns (Matthew 24:6). But amid the turmoil, we are called to proclaim the good news that reconciles sinners to God and, one day, will reconcile all creation.

A Call to Prayer

May we, as the Calvary Herald readership, be found faithful in prayer:

“He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire. Be still, and know that I am God…” (Psalm 46:9-10)

Let us long for the day when Christ will wipe away every tear, when swords will be beaten into plowshares, and when the whole earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

Until then, we watch, we pray, and we hope.