Pope Leone XIV presides over a mass in the Parrocchia Pontificia di San Tommaso da Villanova (Papal Parish of St. Thomas of Villanova) in the summer papal estate in Castel Gandolfo, 40 km southeast of Rome. AFP
The pontiff also renewed his appeal for negotiations, a ceasefire and an end to Israel's war on Gaza, while reiterating his concern for the "dramatic humanitarian situation" in the Palestinian territory, it said in a statement.
The Vatican said Netanyahu initiated the call on Friday morning, the day after a deadly Israeli strike on the Holy Family Church in Gaza City killed three people and provoked international condemnation.
"During the conversation, the Holy Father renewed his appeal to revive negotiations and reach a ceasefire and the end of the war," the Vatican said in a statement, noting that Leo was at his summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, south of Rome.
"He once again expressed his concern for the dramatic humanitarian situation of the population in Gaza, whose heartbreaking toll is borne particularly by children, the elderly and the sick."
"Finally, the Holy Father reiterated the urgency of protecting places of worship and especially the faithful and all people in Palestine and Israel."
Netanyahu has said Israel "deeply regrets" the strike, and blamed a "stray round".
However, figures released by Gaza’s Government Media Office in April reveal that Israeli airstrikes have destroyed over 1,000 mosques and three churches, indicating a clear pattern of attacks on places of worship, according to many observers.
He repeated this regret in the conversation with the pope, which was "friendly", a spokesman for Netanyahu told AFP, adding that the two men agreed to meet soon.
Israel’s military maintains that it does not deliberately target churches or religious sites, despite ongoing airstrikes on Gaza that have targeted hospitals, places of worship, and civilian infrastructure, killing more than 58,000 people since October 7, 2023.
*This story was edited by Ahram Online.
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