Vatican City: At the Sunday Angelus in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Leo XIV renewed his urgent call for peace in the Gaza Strip, condemning violence and forced displacement as paths that can never lead to a just future. The Holy Father addressed faithful gathered at the Vatican and extended gratitude to Catholic associations working in solidarity with the suffering people of Gaza.
Speaking with deep emotion, Pope Leo affirmed: “There is no future based on violence, forced exile, or vengeance. Peoples need peace, and those who truly love them work for peace.” He aligned himself with the pastors of the Churches in the Holy Land and with aid organizations that continue to provide relief to those trapped in war.
Greeting representatives of Catholic groups present at the Angelus, the Pope praised their initiatives, saying: “Dear friends, I appreciate your efforts and the many other expressions of closeness from across the Church to our brothers and sisters suffering in that tormented land.”
The Pope’s appeal comes amid a fresh wave of devastation in Gaza. Health authorities in the enclave reported at least 60 Palestinians killed on Saturday as Israeli forces intensified their offensive on Gaza City. The assault has included the destruction of high-rise buildings and the clearing of underground tunnels and booby-trapped structures.
According to reports, Israeli forces now control the eastern suburbs of the city, pressing toward its central and western sectors. Israel claims nearly 500,000 people have fled Gaza City this month, while Hamas contests the figure, stating that only 300,000 have left, and more than 900,000 remain under siege including fewer than 50 Israeli hostages still held by Hamas or allied groups.
Since Israel launched its invasion of Gaza two years ago in response to Hamas’s October 2023 attack which left 1,200 people dead and around 250 taken hostage over 65,000 Palestinians have been killed. The humanitarian crisis has escalated into one of the gravest in modern history, marked by mass displacement, hunger, and widespread destruction.
Pope Leo has been unrelenting in his moral stance throughout the conflict. Recalling last week’s Angelus, he once again expressed “deepest sympathy for the Palestinian people in Gaza, who continue to live in fear and survive in unacceptable conditions, forced once again from their lands.”
Quoting the biblical commandment “Thou shalt not kill,” the Pope reminded the world that every person possesses “an inviolable dignity that must be respected and protected.” He called on global leaders and the international community to redouble efforts toward peace, humanitarian relief, and justice.
The Holy Father reiterated his demands for an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages, the protection of civilians, and a diplomatic solution that honors international law. He concluded his message by inviting all believers to join him in prayer: “May a dawn of peace and justice soon arise for all peoples of this land.”