Nightly calls from Pope Francis were a 'sign of hope' for Gaza's Christians during war | CBC News

CBC - 22/04
Every evening at 8 p.m., Father Gabriel Romanelli of Holy Family Church in Gaza City prepared to receive a call from Vatican City. The calls from Pope Francis — checking in on how those huddled inside Gaza's lone Catholic Church were coping during the war — were 'a singular expression of his love' that the the priest says gave people a sign of hope.

On Monday night, following the news of the death of Pope Francis, Father Gabriel Romanelli's cellphone did not ring at 8 p.m. as it normally would. 

This was normally the time the pontiff would call the priest at the Holy Family Church in Gaza City every night throughout the war to check on how those huddled inside Gaza's lone Catholic church were coping with a devastating war. 

In an interview with CBC News chief correspondent Adrienne Arsenault on Monday, Romanelli recalled how children in the church would run over to listen in when he would take the Pope's calls with his vice rector, Father Youssef Assaad. He says they would cheer "The Pope! Viva Papa!" (Long live the Pope!) and ask for his blessings. 

Usually, he said, when the phone rang at 8 p.m., people knew it was time for "Santo Padre," referring to the Italian phrase meaning Holy Father.

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