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last mo.

Gaza’s Christians Mourn Pope Francis, Their Lifeline During War

The pope’s death has left Gaza’s churches grieving and silent, as his daily calls and support sustained hope for the enclave’s embattled Christian minority throughout 18 months of conflict.

The coffin with the body of Pope Francis is carried into St. Peter's Basilica, where he will lie in state, at the Vatican, April 23, 2025. ALESSANDRO DI MEO/Pool via REUTERS
A nun attaches a black ribbon to a photo of Pope Francis following his death, at the Latin Patriarchate in Jerusalem's Old City, April 22, 2025. REUTERS/Sinan Abu Mayzer
Palestinian Christians in Gaza mourn the death of Pope Francis, who had maintained close contact with the besieged territory's small Christian community since the start of the war, on Monday, April 21, 2025. (Photo by Omar AL-QATTAA / AFP) (Photo by OMAR AL-QATTAA/AFP via Getty Images)

Overview

  • Pope Francis maintained daily contact with Gaza’s Holy Family Church for 18 months, offering moral and material support to its Christian community during the ongoing war.
  • The pope’s death on April 21, 2025, at age 88, has left Gaza’s Christians in mourning, with memorial services held locally and globally to honor his legacy.
  • Gaza’s Christian population, once numbering 1,300, has been devastated by the war, with over 80% displaced and around 20 killed in Israeli strikes.
  • Holy Family Church continues to shelter approximately 500 displaced individuals, including Christians and some Muslims, as the conflict persists.
  • Pope Francis’s calls for peace, a ceasefire, and humanitarian aid remain a cornerstone of his enduring legacy for Gaza’s besieged community.