Gaza Parish Priest in UK raising plight of Holy Land Christians

l-r: Bishop Hudson, Fr Romanelli, Fr Madden outside Parliament. Image: M Mazur CBCEW

Source: CBCEW/ICN

Father Gabriel Romanelli, Parish Priest of Holy Family Catholic Parish in Gaza, has been in London during a week-long visit to the United Kingdom, facilitated by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales.

An Argentinian priest of the Institute of the Incarnate Word (IVE), on Tuesday he met with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Most Rev Justin Welby, at Lambeth Palace. He has also met with Cardinal Vincent Nichols, President of the Bishops' Conference, Archbishop John Wilson of Southwark and Bishop Nicholas Hudson, the new Chair of the International Affairs Department and Chair of the Holy Land Coordination.

Father Romanelli has also had meetings with Christian charities and organisations devoted to alleviating the suffering of the peoples of the Holy Land.

On Tuesday, 23 April, Bishop Hudson accompanied Father Romanelli to the Houses of Parliament to brief MPs and shed light on the challenges faced by Christians in the Holy Land following the 7 October Hamas terror attack and the subsequent bombardment of the Gaza Strip by Israel.

The cross-party group of MPs and Peers highlighted the ongoing work of Parliament in trying to get more humanitarian aid delivered to the people of Gaza.

Despite being stranded in Jerusalem due to the conflict, Father Romanelli has maintained constant communication with his parishioners. He is regularly in contact with Pope Francis, who shows a deep ongoing prayerful concern for those sheltering in the compound of the Holy Family, and has explained that after several months of war, the people are "tired, sad, and heartbroken".

Fr Gabriel is now going to Scotland where he will be meeting the Archbishop of Glasgow, Most Rev William Nolan.

They will concelebrating a special Mass for Peace on Friday, 26 April at 1pm in St Andrew's Cathedral, Glasgow, supported by SCIAF. All are welcome.

The Mass will also be livestreamed. See: www.cathedralg1.org/watch-live.html

or: www.mcn.live/camera/st-andrews-cathedral/

(ICN editor Jo Siedlecka met Fr Gabriel at a press conference in London today and will publishing a report soon.)