Pope Leo XIV leads the Angelus prayer in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, July 20, 2025. REUTERS/Yara Nardi TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY Purchase Licensing Rights , opens new tab

CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy, July 20 (Reuters) – Pope Leo called for an end to the ‘barbarity of war’ on Sunday as he spoke of his profound pain over an Israeli strike on the sole Catholic church in Gaza.

Three people died and several were injured, including the parish priest, in the strike on the Holy Family Church compound in Gaza City on Thursday. Photos show its roof has been hit close to the main cross, scorching the stone facade, and shattering windows.

Speaking after his Angelus prayer, Leo read out the names of those killed in the incident.

“I appeal to the international community to observe humanitarian law and respect the obligation to protect civilians as well as the prohibition of collective punishment, of indiscriminate use of force and forced displacement of the population,” he said.

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It is one of the highest reported death tolls among repeated recent cases in which people have been killed while looking for aid.

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