Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on May 28, 2025
1 min readLast updated: January 23, 2026
Add as preferred source on GooglePope Leo appeals for a Gaza ceasefire, urging respect for humanitarian law and highlighting child casualties. He also calls for an end to the Ukraine conflict.
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) -Pope Leo appealed on Wednesday for a ceasefire in Gaza, and called on Israel and Hamas militants to "completely respect" international humanitarian law.
"In the Gaza Strip, the intense cries are reaching Heaven more and more from mothers and fathers who hold tightly to the bodies of their dead children," the pontiff said during his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square.
"To those responsible, I renew my appeal: stop the fighting," said the pope. "Liberate all the hostages. Completely respect humanitarian law."
Leo, elected on May 8 to replace the late Pope Francis, also appealed for an end to the war in Ukraine.
(Reporting by Joshua McElwee; Editing by Crispian Balmer)
Pope Leo appealed for a ceasefire in Gaza and urged both Israel and Hamas to respect international humanitarian law.
He lamented the deaths of children, stating that the cries from parents holding their deceased children are reaching Heaven.
He also called for an end to the war in Ukraine during his address.
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