An Israeli shell slammed into the compound of the only Catholic church in the Gaza Strip, killing three people and wounding 10 others, including the parish priest, according to church officials.

Pope Leo XIV said he was "deeply saddened to learn of the loss of life and injury caused by the military attack" on the Catholic Church in Gaza.

An apparent Israeli strike on Gaza's sole Catholic Church killed two people and injured several, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said on Thursday.