Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Shamkhani to Al Mayadeen: There is no mention of lifting sanctions in the latest US proposal, even though this issue is fundamental for Iran
Ali Shamkhani, political advisor to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution and the Islamic Republic of Iran, to Al Mayadeen: After receiving the American proposal, we are now preparing our new proposal
Shamkhani to Al Mayadeen: Iran will never give up its inherent rights
Iranian Defense Minister to Al Mayadeen: Israeli threats to Iran are just pointless nonsense
Iranian Defense Minister to Al Mayadeen: Those who actually possess the power and ability to threaten Iran do not speak as such; they are simply incapable of doing so
Iranian Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh to Al Mayadeen: Iran possesses enough power to render 'Israel' incapable of threatening it
Hezbollah chief Sheikh Naim Qassem after meeting with Iranian FM Abbas Araghchi emphasized the importance of Iran’s positive role in the region and its support for the Palestinian Resistance and its people
Iranian FM Abbas Araghchi after meeting with Hezbollah chief Sheikh Naim Qassem: Iran is keen to assist Lebanon and stand by its side economically and politically, on the basis of mutual respect
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem, during which they discussed regional developments
Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in Gaza: The death toll from the Israeli massacre targeting a tent sheltering displaced persons inside a school west of Khan Younis has risen to 14

Gaza Christians mourn loss of Pope Francis after years of solidarity

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 21 Apr 2025 22:31
  • 5 Shares
5 Min Read

Since the outbreak of the war on Gaza, Pope Francis regularly reached out via video calls, sometimes multiple times a week, to express his solidarity and offer prayers.

Listen
  • x
  • A priest holds a funeral service for Palestinians who were killed in Israeli airstrikes that hit a church, in Gaza City, Friday, October 20, 2023 (AP)
    A priest holds a funeral service for Palestinians who were killed in Israeli airstrikes that hit a church, in Gaza City, Friday, October 20, 2023 (AP)

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.

Related News

Evangelical ally of 'Israel' tapped to lead Gaza aid foundation

Yemen strikes Ben Gurion Airport with ballistic missile for Gaza

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".

The first Latin Pope passes

Pope Francis, the first Jesuit and first Latin American pontiff, passed away on Monday at the age of 88 after a long battle with health issues, including double pneumonia.

The Vatican confirmed the news in a statement issued by Cardinal Kevin Farrell.

“Dearest brothers and sisters, it is with deep sorrow that I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis,” Cardinal Farrell said via the Vatican's Telegram channel.

“This morning at 7:35 am (0535 GMT), the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His church.”

Legacy of reform 

When Francis ascended to the papacy, the Catholic Church was reeling from decades of sexual abuse scandals and internal divisions.

He worked to revise canon law and open leadership roles in Vatican offices to laypeople.

His later years saw growing opposition from conservative cardinals, especially during the Vatican’s Synod in late 2023, part of a wide-ranging global consultation on the Church’s future, a process that now remains unfinished.

  • Vatican
  • Gaza
  • Gaza Strip
  • Palestine
  • Occupied Palestine
  • Pope Francis
  • Israel

Most Read

Lebanon's PM Nawaf Salam meets with US envoy Morgan Ortagus in Beirut on April 5, 2025 (Dalati Nohra via AP)AP)

Morgan Ortagus to exit US role in Lebanon amid policy shift

  • Politics
  • 1 Jun 2025
Spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, announces a new operation against Ben Gurion Airport on May 29, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen announces successful hypersonic missile strike on Ben Gurion

  • Politics
  • 30 May 2025
An Israeli army vehicle moves in the Gaza Strip as seen from southern occupied Palestine, Thursday, May 29, 2025 (AP)

Hamas rejects Witkoff ceasefire plan, says alters terms

  • Politics
  • 29 May 2025
It may well be due to the longstanding relationship between MI6 and HTS, via Inter Mediate, that Britain was the first Western country to recognise their assumption of government in Syria. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Zeinab El-Hajj)

How MI6 helped HTS seize Syria

  • Opinion
  • 31 May 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, center, lays a wreath at the tomb of martyred Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, June 3, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Iran's Araghchi visits Lebanon, honors martyr Sayyed Nasrallah

Israeli occupation forces inspect the site where the Israeli occupation forces said a projectile fired by Ansar Allah landed in the area of Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv, occupied Palestine on Sunday, May 4, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Yemen ready to strike 'Israel' around the clock, says defense minister

In this photo released by the Iranian Presidency Office, President Masoud Pezeshkian steps out from his plane as he arrives at Muscat, Oman, on May 27, 2025. (Iranian Presidency Office via AP)
MENA

Pezeshkian: No talks under pressure or bullying

In this Thursday, April 21, 2016 photo, cattle graze by an Israeli military APC in the occupied Golan Heights, Syria (AP)
Politics

Pastoral settlement, new weapon for displacement in West Bank

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS