The pontiff began phoning Gaza’s Christians every day, more often on the worst days. He was still calling when failing health forced him to suspend normal activities. His conduit was Father Gabriel Romanelli, a 55-year-old priest, a compatriot from Argentina, who had been living in Gaza since 2005.

Pope Francis called to check in on a Christian congregation in Gaza sheltering at their church almost every night since the Gaza war began. "Today we feel like we are orphans," a spokesperson says.