Pope Leo XIV condemns forced displacement in Gaza, calls for ceasefire
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Pope Leo XIV voices solidarity with Palestinians and presses for respect of international law.
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Pope Leo XIV arrives in St. Peter's Square on the occasion of the weekly general audience at the Vatican, Wednesday, September 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Pope Leo XIV has once again voiced his solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, denouncing the continued forced displacement of civilians and warning against the inhumane conditions under which "Israel" is subjugating them.
Speaking after his weekly general audience on Wednesday, the 70-year-old pontiff expressed his "deep solidarity with the Palestinian people in Gaza who continue to live in fear and survive in unacceptable conditions, being forcibly displaced once again from their lands."
The pope’s remarks come as hundreds of thousands of residents of Gaza City are being ethnically cleansed following intense bombardments by Israeli Forces, as the IOF continues its invasion of the city.
Pope Leo reiterated his long-standing plea for an immediate ceasefire, the release of captives, and a diplomatic resolution to the conflict. He emphasized the urgent need for respect of international humanitarian law, stressing that only dialogue can pave the way for peace.
"I renew my appeal for a ceasefire, for the release of hostages, for a negotiated diplomatic solution, and for the full respect of international humanitarian law. I invite everyone to join my heartfelt prayer that soon a dawn of peace and justice will rise."
Vatican’s consistent stance on Gaza
Since succeeding Pope Francis in May 2025, Pope Leo has maintained and, in some cases, intensified the Vatican’s critical stance on the war in Gaza. His predecessor had described the situation as having "the characteristics of a genocide," a sentiment Pope Leo has echoed in his own way by condemning what he called "tragic and inhumane" conditions in the Strip.
In July 2025, following an Israeli strike on the Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza that killed three Palestinians and wounded parish priest Father Gabriel Romanelli, Pope Leo explicitly named the Israeli army as responsible. He prayed for the victims by name and called for "an immediate halt to the barbarism of the war."
Pope Leo has warned against the collective punishment and forced displacement of Palestinians, urging the establishment of humanitarian corridors and an end to the indiscriminate use of force. His recent remarks reinforce the Vatican’s broader concern that the people of Gaza are being left to endure hunger, violence, and death without protection.
