Pope Commends ‘Significant Progress’ Towards Gaza Peace

Pope Commends ‘Significant Progress’ Towards Gaza Peace

Pope Leo XIV on Sunday commended the “notable progress” being made toward peace in Gaza, once again urging both a ceasefire in the war-torn Palestinian region and the release of Israeli hostages.

His comments add to a growing wave of diplomatic responses after the Islamist group Hamas welcomed U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal to end the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.

“In recent hours… significant progress has been made in peace negotiations, which I hope will lead to the desired outcomes as soon as possible,” the American pontiff said as he concluded a mass at the Vatican.

“I call on all responsible individuals to commit to this path, to a ceasefire and to the release of hostages” in order to achieve “a just and lasting peace,” he added.

The pontiff also expressed deep concern over the “resurgence of antisemitic hatred across the world,” citing as a tragic example the recent terrorist attack on a synagogue in Manchester, which left two people dead and three others critically injured.

He also said he was “deeply saddened by the immense suffering endured by the Palestinian people in Gaza”.