Father Gabriel Romanelli, the priest of the Catholic Holy Family parish in Gaza, said Tuesday that he was staying put after Israel launched its offensive to take control of Gaza City.
The Vatican, meanwhile, said on Tuesday Pope Leo XIV had telephoned Romanelli to express his "concern" and assure him of his "prayer and closeness".
Romanelli told Italian State broadcaster Rai's Agora programme that: "the situation had already been bad for a long time and unfortunately it's getting worse.
"We are fine," he continued.
"We hear a lot of shelling, especially in the west and north-west area of Gaza city.
