❗Archbishop Nolan, President of Justice & Peace Scotland, has joined with the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland to issue a joint statement expressing their sorrow at the loss of life after a missile struck the Holy Family Parish Church in Gaza.

Three people are reported to have died and several others, including Fr Gabriel Romanelli, were injured when the Holy Family Church, the only Catholic Church in Gaza, was struck by the Israeli military today.

Fr Gabiel’s 2024 visit to Glasgow was marked by the joint signing of the declaration “From Glasgow to Gaza: A Cry for Peace in the Holy Land” by the Archbishop and the then Moderator, Very Rev. Sally Foster-Fulton. Today’s joint statement, issued by Rt Rev Rosie Frew and Most Rev William Nolan, echoes the declaration and says:

"We join today to express our profound sorrow at the loss of life and the injuries sustained following a missile strike on the Holy Family Parish Church in Gaza. Further, we echo the words of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV in his call for a ceasefire, and his 'profound hope for dialogue, reconciliation, and enduring peace in the region."

"We recall the visit to Glasgow by Fr Gabriel Romanelli, priest of the Holy Family Parish, in April 2024 and the Declaration: "From Glasgow to Gaza: A Cry for Peace in the Holy Land" signed on that occasion.

"The Declaration concluded: 'Today we cry out to all people in positions of power to end this senseless violence. We pray to Almighty God that their hearts may be turned towards compassion, and that they may have the courage and wisdom to pursue the path of justice and peace for all who call the Holy Land home'.

"We reflect on the continued relevance of these words and we renew the call for a permanent ceasefire and the pursuit of "the path of justice and peace".

+Most Rev William Nolan, Archbishop of Glasgow and President of Justice & Peace Scotland
Rt Rev Rosie Frew, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland