Pope Leo tells world not to forget suffering in Gaza

Tuesday, 24 June 2025 03:34 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The head of the Roman Catholic Church yesterday urged people to stay mindful of the suffering in Gaza, where daily Israeli attacks continue to kill and wound hundreds even as Israel’s conflict with Iran escalates following the US strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities overnight.

“In this dramatic scenario, which includes Israel and Palestine, the daily suffering of the population, especially in Gaza and other territories, risks being forgotten, where the need for adequate humanitarian support is becoming increasingly urgent,” Pope Leo said in a weekly prayer with pilgrims.

The pontiff, the first-ever from the US, also warned against a broader “irreparable” war.

“Let diplomacy silence the weapons, let nations chart their future with peace efforts, not with violence and bloody conflicts,” Leo said. “Every member of the international community has a moral responsibility: to stop the tragedy of war before it becomes an irreparable abyss.”