On August 27, 2025, from the heart of the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV issued a powerful and urgent plea for peace in Gaza, joining voices with religious leaders and humanitarian advocates worldwide. As the Israeli military escalated its operations in Gaza City and the humanitarian crisis deepened, the Pope’s words landed with the weight of moral authority and a sense of growing desperation. "Our duty is to protect civilians, prevent collective punishment, arbitrary violence, and forced displacement," Pope Leo declared, according to Spiegel, underscoring the gravity of the situation facing hundreds of thousands of Palestinians trapped in the besieged enclave.
The Pope’s appeal came at a time when, as reported by the United Nations, more than half a million people in Gaza are at risk of starvation and death. That number, UN officials warn, could balloon to 640,000 by the end of September. The majority of these civilians are living in makeshift camps, many already displaced multiple times since the war began in October 2023. With food, water, and medical supplies running perilously low, the specter of famine looms large over the territory.
During his Wednesday catechesis, Pope Leo didn’t mince words. He called for the immediate release of all hostages held by Hamas, an end to what he described as the “collective punishment” of Palestinians, and a permanent ceasefire. "I implore that all hostages be released, a permanent ceasefire be reached, the safe entry of humanitarian aid be facilitated, and humanitarian law be fully respected, particularly the obligation to protect civilians and the prohibitions on collective punishment, the indiscriminate use of force, and the forced displacement of populations," he said, according to Vatican News. The Pope’s remarks echoed a joint declaration by the Greek Orthodox and Latin Patriarchs of Jerusalem, who had just one day prior condemned the "deliberate and forcible mass displacement of civilians."
The crisis in Gaza has placed the last remaining Christian communities in the city under extraordinary strain. On August 26, 2025, Patriarch Theophilos III and Latin Patriarch Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa issued a joint statement announcing that priests and nuns in two of Gaza City’s Christian churches—the Greek Orthodox compound of Saint Porphyrius and the Holy Family Catholic compound—would remain in place despite Israel’s evacuation orders. Their message was stark: "Among those who have sought shelter within the walls of the compounds, many are weakened and malnourished due to the hardships of the last months. Leaving Gaza City and trying to flee to the south would be nothing less than a death sentence. For this reason, the clergy and nuns have decided to remain and continue to care for all those who will be in the compounds."
Hundreds of civilians—including women, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities—have found refuge within these church walls. The Latin compound has long been a sanctuary for those with disabilities, cared for by the Sisters Missionaries of Charity. The churches’ decision to stay, despite mounting danger, is a testament to their commitment to the most vulnerable. The patriarchs warned, "The forced evacuation of the city would be a death sentence for the weak and malnourished."
Pope Leo XIV, in his public address, threw his full support behind these embattled religious leaders. He also invoked the words he had spoken just days earlier: "All peoples, even the smallest and weakest, must be respected by the powerful in their identity and rights, especially the right to live in their own lands; and no one can force them into exile." The churches echoed his sentiment, insisting that "there can be no future based on captivity, displacement of Palestinians or revenge."
The context for these appeals is grim. Last week, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that Gaza City could "turn into Rafah and Beit Hanoun," referencing areas destroyed earlier in the war, unless Hamas agreed to Israel’s terms for a ceasefire. Soon after, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved the IDF’s plan to seize Gaza City, calling up as many as 60,000 reservists for the operation, according to Israeli military officials cited by ABC Audio. These moves have sparked mass protests across Israel, with demonstrators demanding a ceasefire deal that would secure the release of remaining hostages.
Meanwhile, the toll on Gaza’s civilian infrastructure continues to mount. On August 25, an attack on a hospital in Khan Younis killed five journalists and fifteen medical workers, according to media organizations and the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry. Netanyahu described the incident as a "tragic mishap," while the IDF’s initial report claimed that six of those killed were terrorists, including one involved in the October 7, 2023, infiltration into Israel. The incident has drawn further criticism from both international observers and local religious leaders, who argue that no military objective can justify the loss of innocent life or the targeting of essential services like hospitals.
Both the Pope and the patriarchs have repeatedly called for the safe delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza. Since the start of hostilities, access to food, clean water, and medical supplies has been severely restricted. The Pope, in his remarks, implored the international community not to remain silent about human rights abuses and to facilitate the entry of desperately needed assistance. "I renew a strong appeal both to the parties involved and to the international community, that an end be put to the conflict in the Holy Land, which has caused so much terror, destruction, and death," he said, as reported by Al Jazeera English.
The Vatican’s top diplomat also weighed in, expressing shock at Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s recent statements and the ongoing violence. The sense of urgency is palpable among church leaders, who have met with U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Jeff Merkley to discuss attacks on churches and hospitals in Gaza and threats to Christian communities in the West Bank. The senators pledged to raise these concerns with the U.S. State Department and Embassy, a small but significant sign of international engagement.
Throughout these developments, the Pope has anchored his appeals in both humanitarian and spiritual terms. He concluded his address by invoking Mary, Queen of Peace: "Let us implore Mary, Queen of Peace, source of consolation and of hope. May her intercession obtain reconciliation and peace in that land so dear to us all." The patriarchs, too, called for "the healing of the long-suffering families on all sides," insisting that "there is no reason to justify keeping civilians as prisoners and hostages in dramatic conditions."
As the world watches the unfolding crisis in Gaza, the Vatican’s voice is one among many—but it is a voice that refuses to be silent. With the situation on the ground growing ever more dire, the Pope’s words serve as a rallying cry for those who believe that peace, justice, and the protection of the innocent must come before politics or revenge. The coming weeks will test the resolve of leaders and the resilience of civilians alike, but for now, the call from Rome is clear: end the violence, protect the vulnerable, and give peace a chance.