Pope Francis has phoned the local parish priest in Gaza

RELIGIONS NEWS AGENCY (REDNA) – Pope Francis has telephoned the parish priest in Gaza, Father Gabriel Romanelli, twice since the start of the war, to express his closeness and to pray for peace.

Fr Romanelli is currently in Bethlehem, so the Pope has also contacted the vicar still working in the Gaza parish, which is home to around 150 refugees who have lost their homes or are seeking a safe place from the bombardments.

There are no reported deaths in the parish church community, nor damage to church buildings.