Middle East: Father Romanelli, Christmas in Gaza is more difficult than ever

Milan, 24 December (LaPresse) – ‘What lies ahead for Christians in Gaza is a difficult Christmas, reminiscent of Christmas two thousand years ago. It has never been as difficult as this.’ This is part of an interview with Father Gabriel Romanelli, parish priest of the Church of the Holy Family in Gaza, with the Vatican media, reported by Vatican News. ‘A few days ago, Pope Leo XIV sent us a written message, saying that he always prays for us and thanks us for everything we do,’ said Father Romanelli, who returned to talk about the situation in Gaza, where ‘explosions can still be heard, the earth trembles, but there is more serenity among the people.’ According to the parish priest, however, there is ‘anxiety’ among the inhabitants of the Strip who live without electricity, ‘with generators, burning anything to generate a little energy, thanks also to the few solar panels’ with ‘most people, more than two million’ living in tents. Gaza City, Father Romanelli recalls, ‘is full of rubbish everywhere,’ but the city is still preparing to celebrate Christmas, a ‘different Christmas that brings us back to the essentials,’ ‘manifesting our faith through concrete acts of charity.’