Vatican: Pope Leo XIV had a phone call with Prime Minister Netanyahu this morning during which Leo “repeated his appeal for a renewed push for negotiations, a ceasefire and an end to the war.” The pope also reiterated the need to “protect places of worship.”

The Israeli military said it was “aware of reports regarding damage caused to the Holy Family Church in Gaza City and casualties at the scene,” adding that “the circumstances of the incident are under review.”. “The (Israel Defense Forces) makes every feasible effort to mitigate.

It is not the first time the Holy Family parish has been struck: in December 2023 a military sniper shot and killed two women. The parish is also known for its close connection with Pope Francis, who would call them on a near daily basis after the Israel-Hamas war began.

Pope Leo XIV says he is "deeply saddened" by the deaths & injury caused by the "military attack" on the Catholic parish in Gaza. Leo re-iterates his call for an "immediate ceasefire" in the Israel-Hamas war.

Pope Leo leads the Angelus prayer from the entrance of the apostolic palace at #CastelGandolfo, the hilltop town where he is having a summer break.

RT @joshjmcelwee: The Vatican's embassy in Kyiv was slightly damaged during Russian attacks on the Ukrainian capital early on Thursday morn….

Pope Leo and President Zelensky met today in Castel Gandolfo. The Vatican said the pair discussed "the urgent need for a just and lasting peace" while Leo reiterated his willingness "to welcome representatives of Russia and Ukraine to the Vatican for negotiations.".

Pope Leo XIV, celebrating a Mass "For the Care of Creation" in the gardens of Castel Gandolfo, said during his homily: "we have to pray for the conversion of so many people, inside and outside the Church, who still do not recognize the urgency of caring for the common home."

RT @joshjmcelwee: Pope Leo interrupted a two-week vacation on Wednesday to celebrate a special Mass exhorting Catholics to exercise care fo….

During the Second World War, the papal summer residence provided refuge for Jewish refugees and more recently was the setting for “The Two Popes,” the Netflix movie that explores the differing visions for the church’s future of Benedict XVI and his successor Francis.

Pope Leo is reviving tradition by having a summer break at Castel Gandolfo but is not turning the clock back. He’s staying in the Villa Barberini rather than the papal palace, which Pope Francis turned into a museum. @CNN report: .

See where Pope Leo XIV goes for a summer break. Watch here:

Pope Leo expresses his “sincere condolences” to “all the families who have lost loved ones, in particular their daughters who were at summer camp, in the disaster caused by the flooding of the Guadalupe river in Texas in the United States. We pray for them.”

See where Pope Leo XIV will take his summer break. Report for @CNN (📹Fiona Sibbett + editing @philclarkehill) . #CastelGandolfo .

RT @austeni: The blessings of gay people in relationships as described in #FiduciaSupplicans will remain, affirms Vatican doctrine chief.….

Pope Leo XIV has appointed the Archbishop Thibault Verny of Chambéry, France, as President of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors. He succeeds Cardinal Sean O’Malley of Boston in the role. 📸Vatican Media

Cardinal Robert McElroy of Washington DC speaking to @CNN about immigrant deportations.

Prominent US Catholic leader, Cardinal.McElroy of Washington DC, voiced opposition to Trump’s megabill saying it “takes from the poorest to give to the wealthiest.”.