In a landmark encounter that underscores the Church’s commitment to peace and humanitarian action, Pope Leo XIV welcomed Mahmoud Abbas, President of the State of Palestine, at the Vatican on Thursday. Their first face-to-face meeting followed months of telephone engagement and took place against the backdrop of ongoing crisis in the Gaza Strip.
A statement from the Holy See Press Office, according to Vatican News, described the meeting as “cordial,” and affirmed that both leaders addressed the “urgent need to provide assistance to the civilian population in Gaza and to end the conflict by pursuing a two-State solution.”
During the discussion, Pope Leo stressed the moral imperative of reaching civilians in Gaza with humanitarian relief, stressing that the suffering of non-combatants demands immediate attention. “During the cordial talks, it was recognized that there is an urgent need to provide assistance to the civilian population in Gaza,” the Vatican said.
President Abbas, for his part, affirmed his long-standing respect for the Church’s role in the Holy Land. In a visit the previous day to the Basilica of St Mary Major, he laid a bouquet on the tomb of Pope Francis, declaring: “I came to see Pope Francis because I cannot forget what he did for Palestine and for the Palestinian people, and I cannot forget that he recognised Palestine without anyone having to ask him to do so.”
The meeting also coincides with the tenth anniversary of the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement between the Holy See and the State of Palestine (June 26 2015), which reaffirmed the Vatican’s recognition of Palestinian statehood and underscored the sacred significance of Jerusalem for Jews, Christians and Muslims alike.
For Catholics following the Holy Land, the encounter offers both hope and a challenge. Hope, because the Church is visibly engaging in diplomatic efforts for peace; challenge, because the reality of war, displacement and humanitarian need in Gaza demands more than statements. Pope Leo’s call for a two-State solution as part of a path to peace echoes the Church’s long-held position and invites the global Catholic community to accompany his plea with prayers and action.
As Catholics hear the Pope’s message, parishes and faithful are invited to reflect on how the Gospel calls us to stand with the vulnerable, to advocate for justice, and to support efforts that bring relief and peace to families living under siege and conflict. The meeting reinforces that peace in the Holy Land is not just a diplomatic matter but a pastoral one: every human life is sacred, every child and civilian in Gaza borne in the heart of the Church.
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