Pope Leo XIV has united his voice with the Latin and Greek Orthodox Patriarchs of Jerusalem, joining their urgent call for peace in Gaza and for humanitarian aid to reach those who are suffering. His appeal, delivered on Wednesday, August 27, reinforced the message of the Patriarchs, who had issued a joint statement the previous day urging an end to displacement, destruction, and violence in the Holy Land.
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa and Patriarch Theophilos III, who together shepherd the Catholic and Orthodox communities in Jerusalem, emphasized that the ongoing war has caused intolerable devastation and that there can be no justification for forcing civilians from their homes or holding them as captives. They stressed that after so much loss, families on all sides are in need of healing and restoration.
Pope Leo, recalling the recent Day of Prayer and Fasting for Peace, appealed once again to both parties in the conflict and to the international community to bring an end to the bloodshed. He underscored that the conflict has left behind only terror, destruction, and grief, and that continued violence offers no path forward.
The Holy Father also laid out concrete priorities. He pressed for the release of hostages, for a lasting ceasefire to be reached, and for humanitarian aid to be allowed safe passage into Gaza. He urged that international law be upheld in every respect, including the protection of civilians, the rejection of collective punishment, and the avoidance of indiscriminate attacks and forced displacement.
The Patriarchs pointed to the suffering within their own communities as a sign of the broader tragedy. Since the outbreak of war in October 2023, both the Holy Family Catholic Church and St. Porphyrius Orthodox Church in Gaza City have taken in hundreds of civilians seeking refuge. Even these sanctuaries have not been spared from violence, as a strike on the Catholic parish in July claimed lives and caused injuries. The Patriarchs themselves traveled into Gaza later that month, witnessing firsthand the wounds of their people and the uncertainty that hangs over the entire population.
In their statement, they rejected any future built on captivity, displacement, or revenge. Instead, they prayed for a change of heart that would open the way toward justice, peace, and life for Gaza and for the wider Holy Land.
Pope Leo ended his appeal by turning to the Blessed Virgin Mary, asking that her intercession might bring comfort to the afflicted and reconciliation to the divided. He entrusted the Holy Land to her maternal care, affirming once more that peace is both the deepest hope of the Church and the urgent need of the world.