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Pope Leo renews call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza

Pope Leo appeals to world powers for peace in his first Sunday address

Pope Leo XIV condemned the "barbarity" of the Gaza war, calling for an immediate ceasefire and urging the international community to respect humanitarian law and protect civilians.
Gazan officials reported 85 Palestinians were killed on Sunday while queuing for aid, with witnesses claiming Israeli soldiers and tanks fired on the crowds in northern Gaza.
This incident followed another on Saturday, where 32 Palestinians were reportedly killed by Israeli troops while waiting for food distributed by the US and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).
Israel's military acknowledged shooting at a large gathering of Palestinians in northern Gaza, citing a threat, and expressed regret over an earlier attack on the Holy Family Catholic Church, which killed three.
The ongoing conflict, now in its 21st month, has led to a catastrophic humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with over 58,800 Palestinians killed by Israel's military offensive since Hamas's October 7th attack.