Pope urges immediate end to ‘barbarity’ of Gaza war after church damaged – The Times of Israel
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Trump Condemned by New York Catholic Leaders Over Image of Himself as Pope
The White House shared an AI-generated photo of the president styled as the Pope. The image was widely condemned and mocked on the latter platform. Trump, who is not Catholic, first shared the image himself on Truth Social.
“We just buried our beloved Pope Francis and the cardinals are about to enter a solemn conclave to elect a new successor of St. Peter. Do not mock us.”
Trump, who is not Catholic, first shared the image himself on Truth Social Friday night, only days after attending the funeral for Pope Francis. The White House reposted the image on X.
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The image was widely condemned and mocked on the latter platform.
Pope Francis died April 21. Trump was later criticized for saying he was looking forward to the funeral and for wearing a blue suit to it instead of black.
The post Trump Condemned by New York Catholic Leaders Over Image of Himself as Pope appeared first on TheWrap.
Pope renews call for immediate Gaza ceasefire
Pope Leo has renewed his call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. He also expressed his ‘deep sorrow’ for the Israeli attack on the only Catholic church in the Gaza Strip. The attack killed three people and wounded 10 others, including the parish priest. The shelling of the Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza also damaged the church compound, where hundreds of Palestinians have been sheltering from the war.
Pope Leo has renewed his call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, asking the international community to respect international laws and the obligation to protect civilians.
“I once again call for an immediate end to the barbarity of this war and for a peaceful resolution to the conflict,” the pontiff said at the end of his Sunday Angelus prayer from his summer retreat in Castel Gandolfo.
Leo also expressed his “deep sorrow” for the Israeli attack on the only Catholic church in the Gaza Strip on Thursday, which killed three people and wounded 10 others, including the parish priest.
A gust of wind blew the Pope’s cloak up as he finished delivering the Angelus prayer (Gregorio Borgia/AP) (Gregorio Borgia/AP)
“I appeal to the international community to observe humanitarian law and respect the obligation to protect civilians as well as the prohibition of collective punishment, the indiscriminate use of force, and the forced displacement of populations,” the Pope added.
The shelling of the Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza also damaged the church compound, where hundreds of Palestinians have been sheltering from the Israel-Hamas war, now in its 21st month.
Israel expressed regret over what it described as an accident and said it is investigating.
“We need to dialogue and abandon weapons,” the Pope said earlier on Sunday, after presiding over Mass at the nearby Cathedral of Albano.
“The world no longer tolerates war.”
Pope condemns Israel’s attack against church, calls for end to ‘barbarity’
“Tragic news continues to arrive these days from the Middle East,” Pope Leo XIV says. He expressed his “profound sorrow for the Israeli army’s attack on the Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza City” The attack killed three Christians and seriously wounded others. The pope called for parties to “go to the table to dialogue and to put down their weapons””There is a need to really work for peace, to pray with trust in God, but to also work” toward those efforts, he said. “The invitation, addressed to each one of us, is to pause today between 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.” to pray for just one minute, the pope said in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, July 20. “I deeply sympathize with your feeling that you can do little in the face of this serious situation,” he said to Middle Eastern Christians.
“Tragic news continues to arrive these days from the Middle East, especially from Gaza,” he said after reciting the Angelus with those gathered outside the papal palace in Castel Gandolfo July 20.
“I again call for an immediate end to the barbarity of the war and for a peaceful resolution of the conflict,” he said.
“I renew my appeal to the international community to observe humanitarian law and to respect the obligation to protect civilians, as well as the prohibition of collective punishment, the indiscriminate use of force and the forced displacement of the population,” he said.
The cross on top of the damaged roof of the Holy Family Church in Gaza City can be seen in this photo taken July 18, 2025. The church was hit in an Israeli strike July 17. (OSV News photo/Khamis Al-Rifi, Reuters)
He expressed his “profound sorrow for the Israeli army’s attack on the Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza City” July 17, which killed three Christians and seriously wounded others.
“I pray for the victims: Saad Issa Kostandi Salameh, Foumia Issa Latif Ayyad and Najwa Ibrahim Latif Abu Daoud, and I am particularly close to their families and to all the parishioners,” the pope said.
“Sadly, this act adds to the continuous military attacks against the civilian population and places of worship in Gaza,” the pope said.
Before praying the Angelus, the pope spoke to reporters waiting near the entrance to the papal villa after he celebrated Mass in nearby Albano Laziale.
They asked him about the Middle East conflicts, particularly in Gaza, and he said there is a need for parties to “go to the table to dialogue and to put down their weapons because the world can’t take it anymore.”
“There are so many conflicts, so many wars; there is a need to really work for peace, to pray with trust in God, but to also work” toward those efforts, he said.
When asked about his telephone call with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu July 18, the day after the raid, the pope said, “We insisted on the need to protect the holy places of all religions,” and to work together in this regard.
But he added, there is a need for “true respect for people, for sacred places and to try to leave behind so much violence, so much hatred, so many wars.”
Pope Leo XIV greets those gathered for the Angelus in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, July 20, 2025. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)
After praying the Angelus, the pope addressed all of “our beloved Middle Eastern Christians.”
“I deeply sympathize with your feeling that you can do little in the face of this serious situation,” he said. “You are in the heart of the pope and of the whole church. Thank you for your witness of faith.”
He prayed Our Lady intercede to “protect you always and accompany the world towards the dawn of peace.”
When greeting visitors from different parts of the world gathered in the small square, the pope thanked the International Forum of Catholic Action for promoting the “Prayer Marathon for Leaders.”
“The invitation, addressed to each one of us, is to pause today between 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. to pray for just one minute, asking the Lord to enlighten our leaders and inspire in them projects for peace,” he said.
Ukraine hits Russia with US ATACMS missiles for first time on war’s 1,000th day
Ukraine says it struck a Russian arms depot about 110 km (70 miles) inside Russia. Russia said its forces shot down five of six missiles fired at a military facility in the Bryansk region. U.S. official said Russia intercepted two of eight missiles and that the strike was at an ammunition supply point. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the use of ATACMS was a clear signal the West wanted to escalate the conflict. Russia’s Defence Ministry also said air defence units destroyed 42 Ukrainian drones in at least eight southern and central regions between 9 p.m. (1800 to 2055 GMT) on Tuesday. Ukraine’s U.N. ambassador, Sergiy Kyslytsya, read a statement from his country and 42 others and the European Union, rejecting Russia’s “attempted illegal annexation” of Ukrainian territory. The attacks came as Ukraine marked 1,000 days of war, with a fifth of its territory in Russian hands and doubts about the future of Western support as Donald Trump heads back to the White House.
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KYIV, Nov 19 (Reuters) – Ukraine used U.S. ATACMS missiles to strike Russian territory on Tuesday, taking advantage of newly granted permission from the outgoing administration of U.S. President Joe Biden on the war’s 1,000th day
Russia said its forces shot down five of six missiles fired at a military facility in the Bryansk region. Debris of one hit the facility, starting a fire that was swiftly put out and caused no casualties or damage, it said.
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Ukraine said it struck a Russian arms depot about 110 km (70 miles) inside Russia, an attack that caused secondary explosions. Ukraine’s military did not publicly specify the weapons used, but a Ukrainian government source and a U.S. official confirmed it had used ATACMS.
A U.S. official said Russia intercepted two of eight missiles and that the strike was at an ammunition supply point.
Biden gave approval this week for Ukraine to use ATACMS, the longest-range missiles Washington has supplied, for such attacks inside Russia. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the use of ATACMS was a clear signal the West wanted to escalate the conflict
Moscow has said such weapons cannot be launched without direct U.S. operational support and their use would make Washington a direct combatant in the war , prompting Russian retaliation.
The attacks came as Ukraine marked 1,000 days of war, with a fifth of its territory in Russian hands and doubts about the future of Western support as U.S. President-elect Donald Trump heads back to the White House.
Russia’s Defence Ministry also said air defence units destroyed 42 Ukrainian drones in at least eight southern and central regions between 9 p.m. and 11.55 p.m. (1800 to 2055 GMT) on Tuesday, including 32 in Bryansk region.
Ukraine has long deployed drones to hit targets deep inside Russian territory, including airfields and sites associated with energy. But the use of dozens dispatched over a short period of time was unusual.
At the United Nations in New York, Ukraine’s U.N. ambassador, Sergiy Kyslytsya, read a statement from his country and 42 others and the European Union, rejecting Russia’s “attempted illegal annexation” of Ukrainian territory and demanding immediate withdrawal.
“One thousand days is a tragic reminder of the need to remain resolute in ensuring … that international law prevails, not just in Ukraine, but wherever it is challenged,” he said.
A map showing the range of ATACMS missiles to strike areas within Russia and the town of Karachev, where a Russian arsenal was reportedly attacked.
Military experts say using the U.S. missiles can help Ukraine defend a pocket of captured Russian territory in the Kursk region as a bargaining chip, but was not likely to have a decisive impact on the 33-month-old war, in part as the move comes far too late.
The missile’s range of up to 300 km is much shorter than some that Moscow has used to strike Ukraine, including its hypersonic Kinzhal weapon with a reported range of up to 2,000 km.
On Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a new nuclear doctrine that appeared intended as a warning to Washington. It lowers the threshold under which Russia might use atomic weapons to include responding to attacks that threaten its territorial integrity.
Washington said the update to the nuclear doctrine was no surprise and rejected “more of the same irresponsible rhetoric from Russia”.
Zelenskiy said the step showed Putin had no interest in peace: “Especially on this day … they presented (a) nuclear weapons strategy. Why? They didn’t present (a) peace strategy. Did you hear it? … Putin wants war.”
TRUMP CRITICISMS OF AID
Trump has criticised the scale of U.S. aid to Kyiv and said he will end the war quickly, without saying how. Both sides appear to anticipate his return in two months will be accompanied by a push for peace talks, which are not known to have taken place since the war’s early months.
The warring sides have been escalating to try to secure a stronger position at any negotiations. Zelenskiy says Kyiv must do everything for the war to end diplomatically next year.
“At this stage of the war, it is being decided who will prevail. Whether us over the enemy, or the enemy over us Ukrainians … and Europeans. And everyone in the world who wants to live freely and not be subject to a dictator,” he told parliament.
Dozens of civilians and soldiers gathered for a moment’s silence at a candle-lit commemoration in the evening in Kyiv. Some sobbed.
“My life has been turned upside down. There is no life for me. I only want victory and to return home. I am grateful to all the men defending our country,” said Yuliia, from the city of Mariupol which was captured by Russia in 2022.
U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric cited data from the UN Human Rights Office that more than 12,000 civilians had been killed and nearly 27,000 injured in Ukraine over the past 1,000 days, with more than 2,400 child casualties.
Over six million Ukrainians live as refugees abroad and the population has fallen by a quarter since Putin ordered the invasion that began Europe’s biggest conflict since World War Two.
Military losses are huge, although casualty figures remain secret. Public Western estimates based on intelligence reports say hundreds of thousands have been wounded or killed on each side.
In the first year after the invasion, Ukrainian troops pushed Russian forces back from the outskirts of Kyiv and recaptured territory. Since then, relentless trench warfare has ground eastern Ukrainian cities to dust.
In a move described in the West as an escalation, Russia has deployed 11,000 North Korean troops , some of whom Kyiv says have clashed with Ukrainian forces in Kursk. Zelenskiy said Pyongyang could send 100,000 soldiers.
Russia for its part continues to advance slowly in eastern Ukraine, and said it captured another settlement on Tuesday.
With winter setting in, Moscow on Sunday renewed its aerial assault on Ukraine’s power system, launching the biggest barrage since August.
There has been no public narrowing of negotiating positions. Kyiv demands a full Russian withdrawal from all occupied territory and Western security guarantees comparable to membership in NATO’s mutual defence treaty to prevent future Russian attacks.
Moscow says Ukraine must drop all ambitions to join NATO and withdraw all troops from provinces Russia says it has annexed since its invasion.
Reporting by Tom Balmforth, Olena Harmash, Anna Voitenko and Moscow bureau; Additional reporting by Idrees Ali and Phil Stewart in Washington and Ron Popeski, Oleskandr Kozhukhar and Lidia Kelly; Writing by David Brunnstrom, Tom Balmforth and Peter Graff; Editing by David Gregorio and Stephen Coates
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