Pope Leo XIV has called on world leaders to show “courage” and persistence in their pursuit of peace in Gaza, as preparations continue for a high-level international summit aimed at ending the long-running conflict.
Delivering his message after Sunday’s Angelus prayer at the Vatican, the U.S.-born pontiff welcomed the recently signed peace framework, describing it 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 both the Israeli and Palestinian peoples,” Pope Leo said.
His remarks came ahead of a peace summit scheduled for Monday in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, to be co-chaired by U.S. President Donald Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. The summit will focus on implementing the first phase of a ceasefire in Gaza, following the devastating two-year war that began after Hamas’s attacks on October 7, 2023, and Israel’s subsequent counter-offensive, which has claimed more than 67,000 Palestinian lives.
Reflecting on the deep human toll, the pope said: “Two years of war have left death and destruction everywhere, especially in the hearts of those who have lost their children, their parents, their friends—everything.”
He prayed for divine strength to make peace possible, urging both sides to “see the other not as an enemy, but as a brother—to forgive and to seek reconciliation.”
Pope Leo also turned his attention to Ukraine, expressing sadness over the renewed violence and civilian deaths, including those of children. “My heart goes out to the suffering population, who have lived in anguish and deprivation for years,” he said, appealing once again for an end to the violence.
His message comes amid growing diplomatic efforts, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urging President Trump to replicate his mediation efforts in Gaza by helping broker peace in Ukraine. “If one war can be stopped, others can be stopped as well,” Zelensky said.