Pope Leo XIV expressed concern over Gaza civilians but renewed his demand for Hamas to release Israeli hostages, as Israel continues its defensive operation against terror in Gaza.
Vatican City – Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday reiterated his call for a ceasefire in Gaza while expressing sympathy for Palestinian civilians. Speaking during his weekly general audience, the pontiff noted the hardships faced by Gazans but also underscored the urgent need for Hamas to release all Israeli hostages.
“I express my deep closeness to the Palestinian people in Gaza, who continue to live in fear and survive in unacceptable conditions, forced once again to leave their land,” Pope Leo stated, according to Reuters.
The remarks followed Israel’s ground operation in Gaza City on Tuesday, part of its ongoing campaign to dismantle Hamas’s terrorist infrastructure. Israel, prioritizing civilian safety, issued advance evacuation warnings before the operation. According to estimates, more than 5,000 residents of Gaza have already fled the combat zone.
While renewing his call for a truce, Pope Leo stressed the need for the release of hostages – a humanitarian demand that Israel and its allies have repeatedly emphasized since Hamas’s October 7 massacre, when terrorists abducted civilians, including children and the elderly.
This is not the Pope’s first intervention in the conflict:
- May 2025 – In his inaugural address as pontiff, Leo demanded a ceasefire and the immediate release of hostages.
- July 2025 – He condemned the “barbarity” of Hamas’s war, after an Israeli strike inadvertently damaged a Catholic church where militants were reportedly operating nearby.
- Earlier September – Pope Leo met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog at the Vatican, lamenting the “tragic situation in Gaza” while acknowledging Israel’s right to defend itself.
Israel maintains that its operations are targeted against Hamas, not civilians, and stresses that hostage freedom remains the essential first step to any lasting ceasefire.
