“The World Must Not Forget the Suffering of the People of Gaza Amid the Israel-Iran Conflict” – Pope Leo Provost
[Vatican City, June 22, 2025]
Amid the recent tensions between Israel and Iran, the head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Leo Provost, has urged the world to “not let the suffering and misery of the people of Gaza fade from our minds.”
In an emotional address to pilgrims attending the weekly prayer service at the Vatican City, the Pope said,
“In the dramatic context of the Israel-Palestine conflict, we must not forget the daily hardships endured by civilians in Gaza and other regions. Every day, hundreds of people are killed and injured in Israeli attacks in Gaza, yet global media and international attention are increasingly shifting towards the looming possibility of a new war centered around Iran.”
As the first pope elected from the United States, Pope Leo warned that if this situation is not quickly controlled, it could escalate into “an irreparable war” that would permanently alter stability in the Middle East.
He further stated,
“May diplomacy silence the sounds of weapons. Nations must determine their futures through peaceful efforts, not through violence or bloody conflict. Every member of the international community has a moral responsibility—to stop this tragic war before it becomes an irreparable abyss.”
His call to world leaders was clear: humanitarian aid must reach Gaza immediately, and the international community must feel not only political urgency but also moral obligation.
This statement came exactly one day after the U.S. strike on Iran, at a time when global focus is shifting toward a new potential battlefield, while Gaza remains drenched in blood.
