Pope Leo calls for ceasefire in Gaza, release of hostages
"To those responsible, I renew my appeal: stop the fighting. Liberate all the hostages. Completely respect humanitarian law."
Leo's assumed the papacy earlier this month after he was chosen in a closely followed papal conclave following Francis' death on April 21.
It was not the first time Leo has spoken out on international conflicts. In his first Sunday message, he urged "no more war," a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of the hostages as well as an "authentic and lasting peace" in Ukraine.
On May 21, he addressed the crisis in Gaza during a weekly Sunday audience, advocating "an end the hostilities," and asking Israel to allow humanitarian aid into the war-torn and impoverished enclave.
Israel has since lifted its blockade, allowing a trickle of humanitarian aid back into Gaza.
Leo's May 18 inauguration kicked off swirling speculation about whether he would promote social justice and immigrant rights, as Francis had.
Leo, a Chicago native, is the first American-born pope, although he lived for much of his adult life in Peru.
Some of Leo's past social media posts criticized Vice President JD Vance, who is Catholic, and the Trump administration for its hardline immigration policies. Leo met privately with Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and their wives, the Vatican announced on May 19.
Pope Francis branded Gaza crisis 'serious and shameful'
Israel launched its siege of Gaza after militants affiliated with Hamas - which controls the territory on the border of Israel and Egypt - overran Israel's borders on Oct. 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking around 250 hostage. Since then, more than 54,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's attacks, according to Hamas-run local health authorities.
A ceasefire brokered in mid-January was shattered after two months. The Trump administration's direct talks with Hamas in Qatar since then have failed to clinch a new agreement.
At least 54 Palestinians sheltering in a school were killed by Israel's airstrikes on May 26.
Pope Francis repeatedly called for a ceasefire in Gaza, reiterating in an Easter Sunday message a day before he died, "I appeal to the warring parties: call a ceasefire, release the hostages and come to the aid of a starving people that aspires to a future of peace."
Some of his comments directly criticized Israel for the toll on Palestinian civilians. In a January message, he called the situation "very serious and shameful," adding, "We cannot in any way accept the bombing of civilians."
More: Pope Leo appeals for Israel to allow humanitarian aid in Gaza
Throughout the conflict, Francis kept in close contact with Gaza's small Catholic community, even holding nightly calls with the majority-Muslim enclave's churches in the weeks leading up to his death.
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