"Pope Francis was like a shield for the Christians in Gaza," a parishioner said. "He was the fighter who was fighting for our rights and for our protection." AFP
Christian Palestinians attend mass for the late Pope Francis at the Holy Family Church in the Old City of Gaza. AP
The special prayer followed the announcement by the Vatican that Pope Francis had died at the age of 88. Reuters
Only 1,000 Christians live in overwhelmingly Muslim Gaza. AFP
Pope Francis had maintained close and consistent video contact the territory's small Christian community throughout the war with Israel. AFP
He would call Gaza's only Catholic church to see how people huddled there were coping. Reuters
His last call was on Saturday when he "asked us to pray and gave us a blessing and thanked us for all the service for peace,” said the Rev Gabriele Romanielli. AFP
In his final Mass, on Easter Sunday, Pope Francis once again called for a ceasefire in Gaza. AFP
"Pope Francis was like a shield for the Christians in Gaza," a parishioner said. "He was the fighter who was fighting for our rights and for our protection." AFP
Christian Palestinians attend mass for the late Pope Francis at the Holy Family Church in the Old City of Gaza. AP
The special prayer followed the announcement by the Vatican that Pope Francis had died at the age of 88. Reuters
Only 1,000 Christians live in overwhelmingly Muslim Gaza. AFP
Pope Francis had maintained close and consistent video contact the territory's small Christian community throughout the war with Israel. AFP
He would call Gaza's only Catholic church to see how people huddled there were coping. Reuters
His last call was on Saturday when he "asked us to pray and gave us a blessing and thanked us for all the service for peace,” said the Rev Gabriele Romanielli. AFP
In his final Mass, on Easter Sunday, Pope Francis once again called for a ceasefire in Gaza. AFP
"Pope Francis was like a shield for the Christians in Gaza," a parishioner said. "He was the fighter who was fighting for our rights and for our protection." AFP
Prayer service for Pope Francis held at Holy Family Church in Gaza - in pictures
