VATICAN CITY: On Wednesday, Pope Leo XIV called for urgent humanitarian aid to be delivered to Gaza, where a total blockade has led to critical shortages of food and medicine. Speaking at his first weekly audience in St. Peter’s Square, he expressed deep concern about the situation.
“The conditions in the Gaza Strip are distressing and painful,” the Pope remarked. He emphasized the need for sufficient aid to reach those suffering and urged an end to the fighting, mentioning that the greatest toll is being paid by children, the elderly, and the sick.
Since his election as the first US pope on May 8, Leo has focused on promoting peace, advocating for a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Internationally, Israel is facing significant pressure to halt its military actions in Gaza and to allow humanitarian aid to enter the area. The United Nations announced on Monday that it will start sending in aid for the first time since the total blockade began on March 2, which led to severe food and medicine shortages. However, aid organizations have pointed out that the amount of aid being permitted is still insufficient to meet the urgent needs of those affected.
