The Israel Defense Forces acknowledged awareness of reports regarding damage to the Holy Family Church in Gaza City and casualties at the scene, stating that the circumstances surrounding the incident remain under review.

Israel's Foreign Ministry released a statement expressing deep sorrow over the damage to the Holy Family Church in Gaza City and over any civilian casualty. "Israel never targets churches or religious sites and regrets any harm to a religious site or to uninvolved civilians," it said on X.

The Foreign Ministry indicated that the IDF is examining the incident, noting that the circumstances remain unclear and promising that investigation results will be published transparently.

Vatican News reported that the church was hit by tank fire, with Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, confirming that two of the wounded individuals remain in life-threatening condition following the strike on the religious facility.

"What we know for sure is that a tank, the IDF says by mistake, but we are not sure about this, they hit the Church directly, the Church of the Holy Family, the Latin Church," Cardinal Pizzaballa told Vatican News. "There are four people seriously wounded, among these four, two are in very dramatic conditions and their lives are in serious danger."

Father Gabriel Romanelli, the parish priest, was among those wounded in the attack, along with other individuals who were present inside the church building at the time of the strike, according to Vatican News.

"There are also other injured but less problematic, among them also the Parish Priest, because they were all in the Church," the Cardinal explained during his interview with Vatican News.

Communication challenges in Gaza have complicated efforts to gather complete information about the incident, Cardinal Pizzaballa noted, explaining that he would attempt to obtain additional details as soon as possible.

"We don't have complete information about what has happened in Gaza today because the communication in Gaza is not that simple," he said.

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Pope Francis has suggested that the international community should examine whether Israel's military campaign in Gaza constitutes genocide, marking his most explicit criticism yet of Israel's conduct in the war, Reuters reported on Sunday.

In excerpts from an upcoming book published by La Stampa, the pontiff acknowledged that some international experts believe "what is happening in Gaza has the characteristics of a genocide. We should investigate carefully to assess whether this fits into the technical definition formulated by international jurists and organizations," the pope said in the excerpts.

Last week, the pope met at the Vatican with former hostages held by Hamas in Gaza who are advocating for the release of family members and others still in captivity.

The comments come amid ongoing legal proceedings at the International Court of Justice. Last December, South Africa filed a case against Israel, alleging violations of the Genocide Convention. The court ordered Israel in January to ensure its forces do not commit genocidal acts, though it has not yet ruled on whether genocide has occurred in Gaza.

Francis, who leads the 1.4-billion-member Catholic Church, typically maintains neutrality in international conflicts while advocating for de-escalation. However, he has recently increased his criticism of Israel's military operations. In September, he expressed concern over Palestinian children's deaths from Israeli strikes in Gaza. He also issued strong criticism of Israel's airstrikes in Lebanon, describing them as going "beyond morality."

While Francis has not previously used the term genocide publicly regarding Gaza, controversy arose last year after Palestinians who met with him at the Vatican claimed he used the word in private conversations. The Vatican stated he had not used the term.

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Pope Francis is set to embark on a significant 12-day Asia-Pacific tour next week, with his first stop in Indonesia spotlighting the country's efforts to promote religious harmony, according to Reuters.

The 87-year-old pontiff's visit to the world's most populous Muslim-majority nation will feature a stop at Jakarta's Istiqlal mosque, Southeast Asia's largest, which boasts an unusual architectural feature – a 28.3-meter "Tunnel of Friendship" connecting it to the nearby Our Lady of the Assumption cathedral.

When Pope Francis visits #Indonesia next week, he'll stop by the iconic Istiqlal mosque in #Jakarta that has an unusual feature - a 28.3m "Tunnel of Friendship" connecting it to the city's Catholic cathedral across the road! #WonderfulIndonesia #WonderfulJourney pic.twitter.com/4hXw1iCWOq

— Wonderful Indonesia (@wonderfulid) September 1, 2024

 "It's extraordinary that the Catholics' number one figure is coming," said Nasaruddin Umar, the grand imam of the Istiqlal mosque. "Whatever your religion is, let's respect our guest."

The tunnel, constructed by the Indonesian government in 2020, serves as a symbol of interfaith cooperation, a theme that has been central to Pope Francis's 11-year papacy. During his visit, the Pope is scheduled to participate in an interfaith meeting at the mosque and tour the tunnel, which features illuminated windows and inscribed art on its walls.

Indonesia, where nearly 90% of the 280 million population identifies as Muslim and only about 3% as Catholic, has not hosted a papal visit in more than three decades. The pontiff's upcoming trip has generated excitement among the country's Catholic community.

"If I could meet him, I could only bow before him. I couldn't even bring myself to hold his hand," said Maria Regina Widyastuti Sasongko, a 77-year-old Catholic woman who sells Pope Francis-themed merchandise.

The Pope's itinerary includes a meeting with outgoing President Joko Widodo and a mass at a Jakarta stadium expected to draw more than 80,000 attendees, according to Rev Thomas Ulun Ismoyo, an Indonesian church official.

Following his stop in Indonesia, Pope Francis will continue his journey to Papua New Guinea, East Timor, and Singapore.

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Anouk Aimee, the renowned French actress celebrated for her elegant performances and enduring influence on the silver screen, has passed away at the age of 92, according to reports from AFP. Her career spanned more than six decades, during which she captivated audiences with her mesmerizing screen presence and portrayal of complex, unforgettable characters.

Born Francoise Dreyfus in 1932 in Paris, Aimee's life was significantly impacted by the German occupation during World War II. As the daughter of a Jewish father, her family was forced into hiding, and she was sent to the countryside under an assumed name to evade persecution. This traumatic experience forged her lifelong love for animals, who provided her with solace during those challenging times.

Aimee's breakthrough came in the 1960s, when she starred in Federico Fellini's iconic films "La Dolce Vita" and "8 1/2," cementing her status as a French icon of elegance and sophistication. AFP quoted Fellini as saying, "Anouk Aimee represents the kind of woman who worries you to death," highlighting her captivating screen presence.

However, it was her role as a lovelorn widow in the 1966 film "A Man and A Woman" that truly catapulted her to international stardom. AFP reports that her performance in this box-office smash earned her an Oscar nomination, a Golden Globe for Best Actress, and opened doors to Hollywood. The film's memorable "chabadabada, chabadabada" theme tune became an integral part of her legacy.

Throughout her illustrious career, Aimee worked with esteemed directors such as Jacques Demy, Sidney Lumet, and George Cukor, showcasing her versatility and ability to inhabit a wide range of characters. Her portrayal of an aging showgirl in Demy's "Lola" in 1961 remains a standout performance, demonstrating her talent for conveying complex emotions with subtlety and grace.

In a quote from AFP, Aimee reflected on her passion for acting, stating, "Cinema is like a meeting between lovers. I love that, it's like a gift and I adore the feeling of being loved."

While her career slowed in the 1980s, Aimee continued to receive recognition for her remarkable body of work. In 1980, she won Best Actress at the Cannes Film Festival for her role in Marco Bellocchio's "A Leap in the Dark," and in 2002, she was awarded an honorary Cesar – France's equivalent of the Oscars.

Aimee's final on-screen appearance came in 2019 when she reunited with her "A Man and A Woman" co-star Jean-Louis Trintignant for a sequel directed by Claude Lelouch, reprising their iconic roles as octogenarians. This poignant farewell to the characters that had defined her career was a fitting tribute to her enduring legacy.

As the world mourns the loss of this cinematic treasure, Anouk Aimee's unforgettable performances and embodiment of French elegance will continue to inspire generations of actors and filmmakers. Her contribution to the art of cinema remains an indelible mark on the cultural landscape.

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Pope Francis prayed Saturday for an end to the coronavirus pandemic, using his Christmas Day address to urge health care for all, vaccines for the poor and for dialogue to prevail in resolving the world's conflicts.

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Amid a record-setting rise in COVID-19 cases in Italy this week, only a few thousand people flocked to a rain-soaked St. Peter's Square for Francis' annual "Urbi et Orbi" ("To the city and the world") Christmas address. Normally, the square would be packed with tens of thousands of holiday well-wishers.

At least they could gather this year. Italy's 2020 holiday lockdown forced Francis to deliver a televised address from inside the Apostolic Palace to prevent crowds from forming in the square. Although Italy this week counted more than 50,000 cases in a single day for the first time, the government has not ordered another lockdown.

The pope's Christmas Day speech gives him an opportunity to draw a global audience's attention to conflicts big and small. This year was no different. Francis lamented ongoing conflicts in Syria, Yemen and Iraq, newly flaring tensions in Ukraine and Ethiopia, and an "unprecedented crisis" in Lebanon.

"We have become so used to them (conflicts) that immense tragedies are now being passed over in silence; we risk not hearing the cry of pain and distress of so many of our brothers and sisters," he said from the loggia of St. Peter's Basilica as Swiss Guards stood at attention in the square below.

Francis warned of the pandemic tendency to withdraw and isolate, urging instead dialogue to try to resolve the world conflicts. He prayed in particular for those most affected by the virus, including women and children who have suffered increased abuse during lockdowns.

"Son of God, comfort the victims of violence against women, which has increased in this time of pandemic. Offer hope to young children and adolescents suffering from bullying and abuse," he said.

He prayed for "consolation and warmth" for older adults who are alone, as well as for health care workers who "generously devote themselves" to caring for the sick.

"Grant health to the infirm and inspire all men and women of good will to seek the best ways possible to overcome the current health crisis and its effects," he said. "Open hearts to ensure that necessary medical care – and vaccines in particular – are provided to those peoples who need them most."

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Francis delivered his speech hours after celebrating a "Midnight Mass" service for some 2,000 people, a fraction of the basilica's capacity. The service actually began at 7:30 p.m., a nod to the 85-year-old pope's endurance and a hold-over from last year, when the service had to end before Italy's nationwide COVID-19 curfew.

For the second day in a row, Italy on Friday set a daily pandemic record with 50,599 new cases. Another 141 people died, bringing Italy's official death toll in the pandemic to 136,386.

With the arrival of the Omicron variant in Italy, the Vatican secretary of state this week imposed a new vaccine mandate on Vatican staff, extending it to all employees except those who have recovered from COVID-19.

Previously, only employees who dealt with the public directly had to be vaccinated, such as the staff of the Vatican Museums and the Swiss Guards. Other Vatican employees could access their offices with regular testing. Now, there is no test-out exemption.

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The largest Catholic church in the Gulf region was inaugurated this week in Bahrain, a prime example of religious diversity in the Middle East. 

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The Our Lady of Arabia Cathedral can hold over 2,000 worshippers and sits on roughly 97,000 feet of land donated by Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.

In an interview with i24NEWS, H.E. Dr. Shaikh Khalid bin Khalifa Al Khalifa noted that it is not unusual for the kingdom to provide land to the Catholic community in Bahrain.

"The first Catholic church was built about 81 years ago," he said.

Bahrain's constitution provides for the freedom of religion, as the kingdom hosts mosques, churches, a 200-year-old Hindu temple, and a synagogue. 

According to the Pew Research Center, there are over two million Catholics in the Middle East. 

In Bahrain, most of the roughly 80,000 Catholics are expatriates from Asia, India, and Western countries.

Khalid bin Khalifa, the chairman of the Board of Trustees for the King Hamad Global Center for Peaceful Coexistence, added that freedom of religion is not new for the kingdom.

"It has been here for over 200 years. All the leaders… respected all the religions."

In the Gulf state, the communities of different religious views share a respect for each other as they interact daily.

The chairman added that Bahrainis are brought up to "respect the religions of others."

"All the communities – Jewish, Muslim, Sunni, Shia, Hindu, Christian – are backed. This is what makes Bahrain unique. We all live in a very small area… Bahrainis are very well-educated about other religions," he said.

This article was first published by i24NEWS.

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Gay rights have been thrust into the spotlight during the campaign for the June 28 election. President Andrzej Duda, an ally of the right-wing ruling Law and Justice party (PiS), views what he calls LGBTQ "ideology" as an invasive foreign influence that harms traditional values in the devoutly Catholic nation.

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"We have observed politicians... cynically undertake to foment hostility and hatred towards LGBT persons," the Board of the Jewish Community of Warsaw wrote in a letter.

"We Jews – the descendants of Holocaust survivors – cannot and will not remain indifferent to words that would dehumanize LGBT persons," the board wrote, saying that politicians had failed to learn the lessons of World War II.

Duda has said he would ban teaching about gay issues in schools and labeled "LGBT ideology" more destructive than communism. He later said his words on LGBTQ and communism were taken out of context.

Duda's main opponent is liberal Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, who has faced criticism for introducing education about LGBTQ matters in schools in the Polish capital.

Protestant bishop Jerzy Samiec tweeted on Sunday that LGBTQ people in his church were "sisters and brothers in Christ."

Poland's influential Catholic Church has also referred to LGBTQ people as brothers and sisters, but has spoken out against "an ideology that aims to revolutionize social customs."

On a visit to Warsaw on Tuesday, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said attempts by some Polish communities to introduce "LGBT-free zones" were incompatible with European values.

Duda's campaign spokesman Adam Bielan told the Super Express tabloid on Tuesday that Duda was not homophobic.

"The president defends the rights of families to decide how their children are educated... Like the overwhelming majority of Poles he is against the adoption of children by homosexual couples," Bielan said.

"I don't think you could call those homophobic views."

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