Pope: also claimed that the Catholic bishop of Jerusalem, called the "patriarch," had tried to enter Gaza for a visit on Friday, but was denied entry.

On Saturday, the IDF said that the patriarch had been approved entry and would enter Gaza on Sunday;
the IDF added that aid from his office entered Gaza last week.

The IDF also stressed to Reuters that it allows clerics to enter Gaza, and "works in cooperation with the Christian community to make it easier for the Christian population that remains in the Gaza Strip – including coordinating its removal from the Gaza Strip to a third country."

The patriarch's office told Reuters that it was not able to comment.