Speaking on Sunday, July 20, during his Angelus prayer at the Vatican, the Pope expressed deep sorrow over the violence and urged for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

"Once again, I appeal for an end to this war, so that peace may return to this troubled land," Pope Léon XIV said.

His remarks followed a recent Israeli airstrike in Gaza that severely damaged the Church of Saint Porphyrius, a historic Catholic church believed to be over 1,500 years old and the only one of its kind in the territory. The church had been sheltering displaced civilians at the time of the strike.

The attack resulted in the deaths of three people and left several others injured, including a local priest.

The Israeli government, through Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, responded by expressing regret over the incident. On July 18, Netanyahu reportedly held a private call with Pope Léon XIV, during which he apologized for the damage and assured the Vatican that an investigation was underway.

Israeli officials claimed the destruction of the church was accidental, stating that the building was located near areas believed to be used by Hamas for military operations.

Pope Léon XIV emphasized that human life must be valued above all else, and called on the international community to intensify efforts to bring peace to the region.

"Nothing should be more sacred than human life and lasting peace," the Pope said.

The conflict between Israel and Hamas, ongoing for more than nine months, has killed over 38,000 people in Gaza most of them civilians. The war has also led to a humanitarian catastrophe, destruction of religious and cultural sites, and a worsening of the already dire conditions in the besieged territory.