Pope Leo XIV issued a forceful condemnation of the war on Gaza at Castel Gandolfo, denouncing its “barbarity” and calling for an immediate end to hostilities. “I once again ask for an immediate end to the barbarity of the war and for a peaceful resolution to the conflict,” he declared during the Angelus prayer on Sunday.

The pontiff, who personally contacted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following the latest escalation, expressed profound sorrow over the recent Israeli strike on Gaza’s Holy Family Catholic Church. “This act, unfortunately, adds to the ongoing military attacks against the civilian population and places of worship in Gaza,” he said, underscoring the mounting toll on civilians and sacred sites.

Outrage over church strike

The Holy Family Church, which was sheltering around 600 displaced Palestinians, mostly children and individuals with special needs, became the site of a deadly Israeli strike last Thursday, which killed three and wounded a priest. Pope Leo XIV, visibly anguished, said, “I speak today with deep sorrow for the attack on this church, a sanctuary turned shelter. It is time to stop this slaughter.”

The Israeli occupation forces issued a statement expressing "deep sorrow" over civilian casualties and announced an internal investigation. However, the pope emphasized accountability:

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.

 
Pope's call for international action

In his broader address, Pope Leo XIV urged global leaders to uphold humanitarian principles and ensure civilian protection amid the ongoing war on Gaza, now in its 22nd month. “The situation in Gaza is tragic and inhumane,” he previously noted, echoing his repeated calls for ceasefires, negotiation, and aid access.

Reaffirming the Vatican’s concern for the region’s Christian minority, he added, “I express my sympathy for the plight of beloved Middle Eastern Christians and their sense of being able to do little in the face of this dramatic situation.” He also reiterated that “war is always a defeat,” advocating for “new paths to peace rooted in justice, nonviolence, and protection of the innocent.”

Pope Leo XIV has consistently made Gaza a central concern since the start of his papacy, repeatedly condemning the “tragic and inhumane” conditions in the Strip. His predecessor, Pope Francis, similarly condemned war crimes in Gaza, once stating that the bombing of children and hospitals “goes beyond warfare and amounts to inhumanity,” and called for an investigation into whether genocide was occurring. The late Pope Francis also maintained daily contact with Gaza’s sole Catholic parish.