Palestinian Christians in Gaza are mourning the passing of Pope Francis, remembering him as a steadfast spiritual supporter who maintained close contact with their small and vulnerable community throughout the devastating war waged upon them.

Since the outbreak of the war on Gaza, Pope Francis regularly reached out through video calls, sometimes multiple times a week, to express his solidarity, offer prayers, and provide words of hope. His messages served as a lifeline for many Christians in Gaza amid the unfolding catastrophe.

Voices from Gaza’s Christian minority

Members of Gaza’s Christian community shared heartfelt reflections with AFP, recalling the pope’s compassion and spiritual guidance.

Elias al-Sayegh, from al-Zaytoun neighborhood, said, "I always waited to hear the words of the Holy Father. I would watch him on television, and through the screens. He gave us hope with his messages and prayers."

"Every day, he renewed our hope for an end to the war and the bloodshed. His prayers will remain with us — for peace in the land of peace, Palestine," he added.

George Ayad, from Gaza City, lamented, "With the pope's passing, we in Gaza feel as though a light of love and peace has been extinguished. Though the Vatican is far away, his voice always reached our hearts — he never ceased calling for peace and justice."

"Amid the pain and suffocating blockade we endure, we clung to his words as a beacon of hope. The pope never forgot Gaza in his prayers — and today, we offer ours for his soul," he added.

'Heartbreaking news'

Ibrahim al-Tarazi, from Gaza City's Al-Rimal, expressed, "A heartbreaking and shocking piece of news for all Christians in Gaza and Palestine, and for peace lovers around the world."

"Our hearts are broken by the passing of the saint, our Holy Father. We pray for him. His prayers and blessings will remain within us, that peace may prevail in Gaza and throughout the world," al-Tarazi stressed.

Ramez al-Souri, from Gaza City, offered his condolences, "From Gaza, from the heart of pain, siege, and war, we bid farewell today to our spiritual father, the pope of the Vatican."

"His prayers and blessings reached us, and his voice echoed to the world, saying, 'Do not forget Gaza, do not forget the oppressed,'" he added.

Pope calls for Gaza ceasefire

In what would later prove to have been his last speech, Pope Francis made a public return on Easter Sunday, greeting tens of thousands of worshipers from the popemobile in St. Peter’s Square for the first time since his recovery from double pneumonia. The 88-year-old pontiff delivered a powerful Easter message calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of captives, and global action against 'rising antisemitism'.

Appearing in an open-air popemobile after surviving a five-week hospital stay, Pope Francis waved gently to cheering crowds who filled the square, many waving national flags and chanting "viva il papa!" (long live the pope). The popemobile paused at several points around the flower-filled square, allowing papal aides to bring forward babies for the pontiff’s blessing.

Although he did not preside over the full Vatican Easter Mass due to health limitations, Pope Francis appeared at the conclusion of the service to deliver the traditional "Urbi et Orbi" blessing, a message "to the city and the world."

In a statement read aloud by an aide, the Pope’s Easter message described the situation in Gaza as “dramatic and deplorable.” He urged all warring parties to agree to an immediate ceasefire.

“I appeal to the warring parties: call a ceasefire, release the hostages, and come to the aid of a starving people that aspires to a future of peace,” the statement read.

Francis also expressed “closeness to the sufferings of all the Israeli people and the Palestinian people,” while warning of what he described as a “worrisome” global trend of "antisemitism".