Gaza City, Palestine – For Kamal Anton, 72, Pope Francis was a source of comfort and support.
Kamal had to take shelter since the start of the war in the same complex of the Catholic Church in Gaza City – the Church of the Holy Family – that his wife and daughter were shot by an Israeli elite shooter.
It was in December 2023, two months after the start of the War of Israel. Anton and more than two million Palestinians in Gaza have often felt abandoned during the 18 months of conflict, in which more than 50,000 Palestinians were killed, with the hope of an end of war which always feels distant.
But the late Pope, who died Monday at the age of 88 in the city of the Vatican after a battle against the disease, was in constant contact with the small Christian community of Gaza. Before his illness, he made calls every evening with those who reflect themselves in the church and continued to reach out, less regularly, even after falling ill.
Kamal remembered his last call on Saturday, just two days before his death. Pope Francis greeted the members of the Church for Easter.
“During his call, he prayed for peace and resilience for us in Gaza,” said Kamal. “He has never forgotten the word” peace “in any of his calls with us throughout the war. His support included us all – Christians and Muslims. He prayed daily for our security. “
Palestinian defender
A deep feeling of sorrow and grief permeates the church of the Holy Family, where about 550 displaced Palestinian Christians continue to seek a shelter.
Israel attacked the church and its school next time during the war, including an attack in July 2024 in which four people were killed. Another church, St Porphyrios Greek Orthodox Church, was also bombed.
But the Church of the Holy Family is always a refuge. People gather inside the church every day, piano music accompanies hymns during prayer and people salute Father Gabriel Romanelli. He is the parish priest, an Argentinian who came to Gaza to direct the church 15 years ago.
After the pope’s death, those of the church were largely dressed in black, the color of mourning.
The loss of their church was a sufficiently solemn event, but Palestinian Christians know that they also lost one of their greatest defenders – a world leader who has long supported the Palestinian cause and has won the anger of Israel several times for his defense of the Palestinians.
In his latest public speech in his name at Easter, Francis called for peace in Gaza and urged the sides at war to “accept a cease-fire, release the hostages and provide help to a hungry people who aspire to a peaceful future”.
Father Romanelli told Al Jazeera that the loss of Pope Francis was a tragedy for Christians around the world, and in particular in Gaza.
He recalled this Saturday phone call with the Pope.
“He said he prayed for us, supported us and thanked us for our prayers,” said Romanelli. “Church people waited for his call daily. He would speak to children and reassure them. He was deeply human and incredibly favorable, especially during the war. ”
Disaster
Kamal noted that the support of Pope Francis was also material, in the form of aid arriving in Gaza until Israel blocks the entire entrance to the goods in Gaza in March, just before she unilaterally broke a cease-fire.
“Everyone in Gaza knows how the Vatican supported us,” said Kamal. “We have always shared this help with our Muslim neighbors too.”
The Palestinian Christian compatriot of Kamal, Maher Terzi, 74, is also in mourning.
Maher, who has been moved since the first week of the war, had just sought in the mourning room when he spoke to Al Jazeera.
“He gave us strength,” said Maher. “He told us not to be afraid, that he was with us and will never abandon us, whatever happens.”
“He encouraged us to keep our land and promised to help us rebuild our destroyed houses,” added Maher. “His death is a disaster and a shock for us for such a difficult period.”
