Pope Leo XIV once again voiced his call on Sunday for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, imploring the international community to uphold international laws and their duty to safeguard civilians.
“I once again call for an immediate end to the barbarity of this war and a peaceful resolution to the conflict,” the pontiff stated after his Sunday Angelus prayer, delivered from his summer retreat in Castel Gandolfo.
The significance becomes clear when we consider the Pope’s expression of “deep regret” over the Israeli onslaught on the lone Catholic church in the Gaza Strip last Thursday. This tragic incident resulted in the loss of three lives and left ten others, including the parish priest, injured.
“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,” the Pope further added.
This development follows earlier reports that the shelling of the Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza also caused damage to the church compound, which had been serving as a refuge for hundreds of Palestinians fleeing from the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, now entering its 21st month. Israel has expressed regret over what it has described as an unfortunate accident and has committed to conducting an investigation.
“We need to dialogue and abandon weapons,” the Pope articulated earlier on Sunday, after leading Mass at the nearby Cathedral of Albano. “The world no longer tolerates war,” Leo told reporters waiting for him outside the cathedral.
When asked about his phone conversation on Friday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Leo stated, “We insisted on the need to protect the sacred places of all religions.”
The Pope will remain in Castel Gandolfo until Tuesday evening, at which point he will return to his Vatican residence, as confirmed by a Vatican spokesperson on Sunday.