Pope Leo XIV speaks with Netanyahu the day after the bombing of a church in Gaza

Pope Leo XIV and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke by telephone on Friday, the day after three people were killed and several wounded in an Israeli attack on the only Catholic church in the Gaza Strip, the Vatican said.

In the conversation, the pontiff "renewed his call to revitalize the negotiations, with the goal of achieving a ceasefire and ending the war."

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Argentine priest Gabriel Romanelli was injured in the attack.

Leo XIV also expressed his "concern at the dramatic humanitarian situation of the population of Gaza," the Holy See said.

Netanyahu announced that Israel is investigating the incident and expressed that the country "deeply regrets" the bombing, which he said was a mistake.

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