Gaza City, Palestine – For Kamal Anton, 72, Pope Francis was a source of comfort and support.
Kamal had to evacuate since the start of the war at the Holy Family Church, a compound of the same Catholic church in Gaza city where his wife and daughter were shot and killed by Israeli snipers.
It was December 2023, two months after the start of the Israeli war. More than 2 million Palestinians in Anton and Gaza often feel abandoned in the 18-month conflict in which more than 50,000 Palestinians were killed, and I hope that the end of the war still feels far away.
However, the late Pope, who died Monday at the age of 88 in Vatican City after his fight against illness, was in constant contact with Gaza’s small Christian community. Before his illness, he called out to those who were refuge in the church every night, and continued to reach out to him so regularly, even after he got sick.
Kamal recalled his latest call on Saturday, just two days before his death. Pope Francis was greeting members of the church for Easter.
“During his call, he prayed for our peace and resilience in Gaza,” Kamal said. “He never forgot the word ‘peace’ in any of his calls with us during the war. His support included all of us, both Christians and Muslims. He prayed every day for our safety. ”
Kamal Anton’s wife and daughter were shot and killed by Israeli snipers in December 2023 [Abdelhakim Abu Riash/Al Jazeera]
Palestinian defender
A deep sense of sorrow and sorrow permeates the Holy Family Church. There, about 550 displaced Palestinian Christians continue to seek shelter.
Israel attacked the church and its nearby schools several times during the war, including the July 2024 attack in which four people were killed. Another church, the St. Polirios Greek Orthodox Church, was also bombed.
But the Holy Family Church is still a shelter. People gather in the church every day, piano music is accompanied by hymns during prayers, and people greet Father Gabriel Romanelli. He is a priest of the parish and an Argentinian who came to Gaza 15 years ago to lead the church.
After the Pope’s death, the church people were mostly black dressed in mourning colors.
The loss of their church leadership was a stern event, but Palestinian Christians know that they lost one of their biggest defenders – the world leaders who have long supported the Palestinian cause and have won Israeli wrath many times for the defense of the Palestinians.
In his last official speech on behalf of Easter, Francis urged peace in Gaza, “to agree to a ceasefire, release hostages, and provide assistance to hungry people who long for a peaceful future.”
Father Romanelli told Al Jazeera that the loss of Pope Francis is a tragedy for Christians around the world, especially in Gaza.
He recalled a call with the Pope on Saturday.
“He prayed for us and thanked us for our prayers, saying he was supporting us,” Romanelli said. “The people in the church were waiting for his call every day. He spoke to the children and reassured them. He was deeply human, especially during the war, and was incredibly supportive.”
Catastrophe
Kamal pointed out that support from Pope Francis is also material, in the form of aid arriving in Gaza until Israel blocked the invasion of all goods into Gaza in March, just before Israel unilaterally broke the ceasefire.
“Everyone in Gaza knows how much the Vatican has supported us,” Kamal said. “We always shared that aid with our Muslim neighbors.”
Kamal’s fellow Palestinian Christian, 74-year-old Maha Terzi, is also in mourning.
Evacuated from the first week of the war, Maher sat in a mourning hall when he spoke to Al Jazeera.
“He gave us strength,” Maher said. “He told us not to be afraid, he said he would be with us and not abandon us no matter what.”
“He encouraged us to hold onto our land and promised to help rebuild the destroyed home,” Maher added. “His death is a catastrophe and a shock for us during such a difficult time.”
Palestinian Christian Mar Terzi said Pope Francis’ death was a disaster in Gaza [Abdelhakim Abu Riash/Al Jazeera]
