Castel Gandolfo, Italy – Castel Gandolfo, Italy (AP) – Pope Leo XIV updated his call on Sunday for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, calling on the international community to respect international law and its obligation to protect civilians.
“I once again seek to end this war's wildness immediately and a peaceful resolution to the conflict,” the Pope said at the end of Angelus' prayer Sunday from his summer retreat at Castel Gandolfo.
Leo also expressed “deep sadness” over Israeli attacks on the only Catholic church in the Gaza Strip on Thursday, killing three people and injuring 10 people, including a parish priest.
“I appeal to the international community to observe humanitarian law and respect the obligation to protect civilians, the prohibition of collective punishment, the indiscriminate use of force, and the forced evacuation of the population,” the Pope added.
The bombardment of the Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza hurts the compounds of a church where hundreds of Palestinians are now evacuating from the Israeli-Hamas War in 21 months. Israel expressed regret over explaining it to be an accident and said it was investigating.
“We need to dialogue and abandon our weapons,” the Pope said on Sunday after lord sided Mass at nearby Albano Cathedral.
“The world no longer tolerate war,” Leo told reporters waiting for him outside the cathedral.
Asked about his phone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday, Leo said he “spoken the need to protect the sacred places of all religions.”
The Pope will remain in Castel Gandolfo on Tuesday evening until he returns to his Vatican residence, a Vatican spokesman said on Sunday.