"Would the Jews down your airplane?" one activist wrote. "The Pope’s plane?"
The push
is in response to a statement the pontiff posted on X on Sunday,
expressing sorrow over the Israeli strike that killed three Christians
at the Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza City last week. "Tragic news
continues to arrive in these days from the Middle East, especially from
Gaza," the Pope wrote.
"I express my profound sadness regarding last Thursday’s attack by the Israeli army on the Catholic Parish of the Holy Family in Gaza City, which as you know killed three Christians and gravely wounded others. I pray for the victims… and I am particularly close to their families and to all the parishioners."
He named the Jews' victims - Saad Issa Kostandi Salameh, Foumia Issa Latif Ayyad and Najwa Ibrahim Latif Abu Daoud - and offered his spiritual support to their families and community.
