As the world mourns the death of Pope Francis, who passed away today at 88, tributes have highlighted his extraordinary commitment to Gaza’s tiny Catholic community, exemplified by his daily phone calls to the Holy Family Parish. The pontiff, who died at Casa Santa Marta just a day after his final Easter blessing, maintained this ritual for over 18 months, offering solace to a war-torn enclave during Israel’s military campaign.
Francis began calling the parish on 9 October 2023, two days after the Hamas-led attack on Israel sparked the conflict, and continued almost every evening at 7 PM, even through his own critical illness. From his hospital bed at Gemelli Hospital, where he battled double pneumonia for 38 days earlier this year, he persisted, missing only a few days during his gravest moments. The calls, often via WhatsApp, were brief—lasting just minutes—but deeply personal. “How are you? What did you eat?” he’d ask, blessing the 600 Christians and Muslims sheltering there, as recounted by Father Gabriel Romanelli, the parish priest.
“Every night, his voice was a lifeline,” said George Antone, head of the parish’s emergency committee, speaking to Reuters hours after Francis’ death. “He knew us by name, told us not to be afraid.” On Saturday, his final call, Francis prayed for them, thanked them for their prayers, and blessed them one last time. The next day, he urged a Gaza ceasefire in his Easter message, read by an aide as he watched from St. Peter’s Basilica.
World leaders reflecting on his passing—including Ireland’s Micheál Martin and France’s Emmanuel Macron—praised this unwavering outreach. Posts on X from mourners in Gaza and beyond echo this, with one user noting, “Pope Francis made around 560 calls to Gaza since October 2023, every day through genocide.” His dedication, even as he grew frail, underscored a papacy defined by empathy, leaving a void as the Vatican prepares for his funeral and a new chapter.
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