The parish priest of Gaza called on his flock to forgive even as the war refugees return to find a “tsunami” of destruction.

Tens of thousands of Palestinians started to make their way back to the northern Gaza Strip, but instead of returning to homes, there is mostly only rubble left, with Father Gabriel Romanelli, saying the entire enclave has experienced a “tsunami” of destruction.

During Sunday Mass, Romanelli invited those present to participate in an act of reconciliation and forgiveness, inspired by the teachings of St Pope John Paul II. “To forgive all those who, voluntarily or involuntarily, have failed, and ask forgiveness for our own shortcomings,” he recalled.

The Christian community of Gaza has mourned the loss of at least 57 people during the war.

At the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV called for the warring parties to lay down their weapons.

“Disarm your hands and, even more importantly, your hearts. As I have said before, peace is unarmed and disarming,” Pope Leo said. “It is not deterrence, but fraternity; it is not an ultimatum, but dialogue. Peace will not come as the result of victories over the enemy, but as the fruit of sowing justice and courageous forgiveness.”