Pope Leo XIV urges peace in Gaza, Venezuela, and Ukraine, reaffirming Vatican’s backing of a Two-State solution and respect for human rights.
Newsroom (09/01/2026 Gaudium Press ) Pope Leo XIV on Friday reaffirmed the Vatican’s “full willingness” to support any global initiative that promotes peace and harmony, as he addressed diplomats accredited to the Holy See in an English-language speech — the first of its kind by a pope in history. His address covered ongoing conflicts across the world, highlighting the worsening humanitarian crises in the Holy Land, Venezuela, and Ukraine.
The pontiff warned that violence and division were deepening rather than subsiding, underscoring the Church’s steadfast call for peaceful dialogue and the protection of human dignity. “Conflicts are rising in the world,” he noted, focusing particular attention on the fragile ceasefire in the Holy Land.
Renewed Call for a Two-State Solution
Despite the truce announced in October 2025, Pope Leo said civilians in Gaza “continue to endure a serious humanitarian crisis, adding further suffering to that already experienced.” His appeal came amid reports that at least 13 civilians were killed Friday after Israeli strikes in eastern Gaza City. The Israeli military said the action was in retaliation for a failed projectile launched by Hamas.
Pope Leo referenced the recently intensified violence in the West Bank, including attacks by Israeli settlers and a newly approved settlement project near Jerusalem that could geographically divide the West Bank in two — a move critics say would make a Two-State solution nearly impossible.
“In particular, the Two-State solution remains the institutional perspective for meeting the legitimate aspirations of both peoples,” the pope emphasized, “yet sadly, there has been an increase in violence… The Palestinian civilian population has the right to live in peace in its own land.”
The Vatican’s position echoed its long-standing diplomatic support for coexistence between Israelis and Palestinians. The pope expressed the Holy See’s openness to any diplomatic initiative that can “guarantee to the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip a future of lasting peace and justice in their own land, as well as to the entire Israeli people.”
On Venezuela: “Respect the Will of the People”
Pope Leo also addressed the crisis in Venezuela, which has drawn new global attention after the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, by U.S. forces in Caracas on January 3, 2026. The operation reportedly left around 100 Venezuelan and Cuban military personnel dead.
Calling for restraint and respect for sovereignty, the pontiff urged the world to “safeguard the human and civil rights of all,” emphasizing that reconciliation, not repression, must guide the country’s path forward. “The will of the Venezuelan people must be respected,” he said, “ensuring a future of stability and concord.”
Appeals for Ceasefire and Compassion in Ukraine
Turning to the ongoing war in Ukraine, Pope Leo described the suffering of civilians as intolerable. “The Holy See strongly reiterates the pressing need for an immediate ceasefire,” he said, “and for dialogue motivated by a sincere search for ways leading to peace.” He called on the international community not to falter in its “commitment to pursuing just and lasting solutions that will protect the most vulnerable and restore hope.”
Lessons From the Past
In a hopeful note, Pope Leo cited examples from modern history where diplomacy triumphed over war. He referenced the Dayton Accords, which ended the Bosnian War thirty years ago, as well as the 2025 Joint Declaration of Peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan. “Despite difficulties and tensions,” he said, “these agreements opened the possibility of a more prosperous and harmonious future.”
The pope also praised the improving relationship between Vietnam and the Holy See, suggesting it as a model of “dialogue and mutual respect” for other nations.
In his closing words, Pope Leo XIV expressed confidence that even in times of conflict, “peace is possible” — so long as nations remain willing to engage in dialogue and protect the rights and dignity of all people.
- Raju Hasmukh with files form Crux Now
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