Pope Leo meets Israeli president Herzog as Gaza war escalates

Pope Leo XIV met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog at the Vatican on September 4th, as Israel intensifies its military campaign in Gaza and the pope renews his call for an immediate ceasefire, according to Middle East Eye via the Associated Press.

Herzog’s office, said the meeting would address the release of hostages, global efforts to combat antisemitism, and the protection of Christian communities across the Middle East.

The Vatican confirmed that Herzog himself had called for the meeting, dismissing speculation that the pope had made an invitation. “It is the practice of the Holy See to grant requests for audiences… it is not the practice to extend invitations,” Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni explained.

A Vatican statement reiterated that “a prompt resumption of negotiations was hoped for … to secure the release of all hostages, urgently achieve a permanent ceasefire, facilitate the safe entry of humanitarian aid into the most affected areas, and ensure full respect for humanitarian law.”

While the Holy See has traditionally sought to maintain diplomatic neutrality, it has called for an end to worldwide conflict.

The late Pope Francis, before his death, had been openly critical of Israel’s military actions in Gaza, describing them as “immoral” and disproportionate, and had called for an investigation into whether they amounted to genocide.

His successor, Pope Leo, who was elected in May 2025 as the first American pope in history, has carried that line forward. While urging for the release of hostages, he has condemned Israel’s forced displacement of Gazans and denounced what he called the “collective punishment” facing Palestinians. He also reaffirmed his support for a two-state solution, an option that appears increasingly bleak after Israel’s finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, unveiled plans to annex most of the West Bank, further eroding prospects for a viable Palestinian state.