Pope Leo has reaffirmed the Vatican’s longstanding position that a Palestinian state is the “only” viable solution to the decades-long conflict between Israel and the Palestinian people.
Speaking to journalists on a flight from Turkey to Lebanon, the first US-born pope said, “We all know that at this time Israel still does not accept that solution, but we see it as the only solution.” He added that the Vatican hopes to act as a mediating voice between both sides, saying, “We are also friends with Israel and we are seeking to be a mediating voice between the two parties that might help them close in on a solution with justice for everyone.”
His comments come as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to reject the creation of a Palestinian state, even as the United States, Israel’s strongest ally, signals support for Palestinian independence.
The remarks were made during Pope Leo’s first in-flight press conference, an eight-minute session largely focused on his four-day visit to Turkey, his first overseas trip since becoming leader of the 1.4-billion-member Catholic Church in May. He said he discussed both the Israel-Palestine and Ukraine-Russia conflicts with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, noting that Turkey has an important role to play in helping to end both wars.
During the trip, Pope Leo warned that the future of humanity was under threat due to the world’s growing number of violent conflicts, and he condemned any form of violence carried out in the name of religion.
The pope has become increasingly vocal in his criticism of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, breaking from his typically cautious diplomatic language.
Turkey, a predominantly Muslim nation, also hosts Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the spiritual leader of the world’s 260 million Orthodox Christians. Pope Leo praised the country as a model of peaceful religious coexistence, saying, “People of different religions can live in peace. That is one example of what I think we all would be looking for throughout the world.”