Pope Leo XIV has called for “courage” and perseverance from those involved in peace efforts for Gaza, as world leaders prepare for a crucial summit aimed at ending the long-running conflict.
Speaking after the Sunday Angelus prayer, the US-born pontiff hailed the recent agreement to initiate peace talks as “a spark of hope in the Holy Land.”
“I encourage the parties involved to courageously continue on the path towards a just and lasting peace that respects the legitimate aspirations of the Israeli and Palestinian peoples,” the Pope said.
The appeal comes ahead of a high-level summit in Sharm el-Sheikh on Monday, co-chaired by US President Donald Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. The meeting seeks to implement the first phase of a ceasefire in Gaza, two years after Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attacks led to a devastating Israeli counteroffensive that claimed over 67,000 Palestinian lives.
“Two years of conflict have left death and destruction everywhere, especially in the hearts of those who have brutally lost their children, their parents, their friends — everything,” Pope Leo said, urging compassion and forgiveness. “May we rediscover that the other is not an enemy, but a brother to look to, forgive, and offer the hope of reconciliation.”
The pontiff also expressed sorrow over renewed Russian strikes in Ukraine that killed civilians, including children, and reiterated his call for an end to the violence there.
Kyiv has recently complained that international focus on Gaza has diverted attention from the war in Ukraine. On Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appealed to Trump to use his diplomatic influence to mediate peace in Ukraine, saying, “If he can stop one war, others can be stopped as well.”
The Sharm el-Sheikh summit is expected to be attended by representatives from the European Union, the Arab League, and the United Nations, marking what many observers hope will be a turning point in one of the world’s most protracted conflicts.