Archbishop Laurent Ulrich awards 2026 literary prize to Father Gabriel Romanelli

Archbishop Laurent Ulrich and Céline Guillaume, director of Groupe La Procure, presented Father Gabriel Romanelli with the 2026 L’Œuvre d’Orient Literary Prize on September 29. Romanelli received the award for his book, Les Ruines et la Lumière.

The prize recognized one of 8 selected works for its perspective on Christians of the Orient and the cultural and spiritual realities of the region. Romanelli, who serves as the priest of the Sainte-Famille parish in Gaza, wrote the book as a testimony to the life and hope of the Christian community remaining in Gaza during the war. His work describes the hardships faced by the community and the persistence of light despite the destruction.