Pope Leo XIV slammed the “barbarity” of the war in Gaza on Sunday and urged against the “indiscriminate use of force,” days after the Strip’s only Catholic church was damaged by the Israel Defense Forces, which has said it was accidental.

“I once again ask for an immediate end to the barbarity of the war and for a peaceful resolution to the conflict,” Leo said at the end of the Angelus prayer at Castel Gandolfo, the papal summer residence near Rome.

The pope spoke of his “deep sorrow” for the attack that hit the Holy Family Church on Thursday.

Three people died and several were injured, including the parish priest, in the attack on the church compound in Gaza City. Photos show its roof had been hit close to the main cross, scorching some of the stone facade and shattering windows. Leo read out the names of those killed in the incident.

Israel said it was investigating the incident, which it said stemmed from shrapnel from tank fire that accidentally hit the shrine. On Friday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with Leo for over an hour and expressed regret for the incident, as well as condolences for the families of the victims.

At the time, the church was sheltering around 600 displaced people, the majority of them children, including dozens of people with special needs.

“This act, unfortunately, adds to the ongoing military attacks against the civilian population and places of worship in Gaza,” Leo said on Sunday.

“I appeal to the international community to observe humanitarian law and respect the obligation to protect civilians, as well as the prohibition of collective punishment, the indiscriminate use of force, and the forced displacement of populations,” he added.

The pope also expressed his “sympathy” for the plight of “beloved Middle Eastern Christians” and their “sense of being able to do little in the face of this dramatic situation.”

Leo and his predecessor, Pope Francis, have consistently called for a ceasefire and hostage release in the Israel-Hamas war. Francis also called for the accusation that Israel is committing genocide — which Israel vehemently denies — to be investigated and made several remarks that drew outcry from Jewish leaders.

Leo, who was elected pope in May following Francis’ death, called for a ceasefire in Gaza in his first Sunday address and has repeated the call since then.

Israel has said it seeks to minimize civilian fatalities and stresses that Hamas uses Gaza’s civilians as human shields, fighting from civilian areas including homes, hospitals, schools and mosques.