In a historic meeting at the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas convened for the first time on Thursday to address the ongoing crisis in Gaza and the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The hour-long discussion, described as “cordial” by the Vatican, centered on the urgent need to provide humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza and to advance a two-state solution as a pathway to lasting peace. This meeting marked a significant diplomatic engagement, coming nearly a month after a U.S.-brokered ceasefire took effect in the region. The two leaders had previously communicated over the phone in July, discussing the escalation of violence in Gaza and the West Bank. The Vatican emphasized the shared recognition of the necessity to alleviate the suffering of civilians and to pursue a political resolution to the conflict. Abbas’s visit to the Vatican also commemorated the 10th anniversary of the Comprehensive Agreement between the Holy See and the State of Palestine, underscoring the longstanding diplomatic ties between the two entities. During his stay in Rome, Abbas paid homage at the Basilica of St. Mary Major, honoring the late Pope Francis, with whom he had maintained regular contact, particularly in the aftermath of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks and Israel’s subsequent military response in Gaza.
Pope Leo meets Palestinian President Abbas, discuss urgent need for Gaza aid, two-state solution
