At a United Nations conference on July 30, Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, the Holy See’s Permanent Observer, delivered a powerful plea for peace rooted in justice and human dignity. Addressing global leaders at the High-Level International Conference on Palestine, he underscored the Vatican’s support for the Two-State Solution.
In his remarks, Archbishop Caccia condemned the October 7 Hamas terrorist attack against Israel as “heinous and unjustifiable,” while urging all responses to adhere to the principles of necessity and proportionality. “Terrorism can never be justified,” he said, while also emphasizing that the protection of civilian life must remain paramount in any military response.
The Archbishop painted a sobering picture of Gaza’s humanitarian crisis: mass displacement, famine, and the destruction of homes, hospitals, and places of worship. Particularly troubling, he noted, was the damage to Gaza’s Holy Family Church — a symbol of the Christian community’s longstanding efforts to foster dialogue and stability in the region.
“The devastation in Gaza shocks the human conscience,” he said. “An immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages, protection of all civilians, and unhindered humanitarian aid are urgent moral and legal necessities.”
Rights of two peoples
The Holy See’s diplomatic approach is grounded in decades of careful, deliberate engagement. It recognized the State of Israel in 1993 and the State of Palestine in 2015. Archbishop Caccia reiterated this balanced stance, affirming both peoples’ right to live “in freedom, security, and dignity within independent and sovereign states.”
Central to his message was a renewed call for an internationally guaranteed statute for Jerusalem. The city holds profound significance for Christians, Jews, and Muslims alike, and must be safeguarded accordingly.
“Jerusalem’s status must transcend political divisions,” he urged, calling for protections for holy sites and equal rights for all faith communities.
Archbishop Caccia also highlighted growing threats to Christians in the Old City of Jerusalem. “It is regrettable,” he said, “that Christians feel increasingly threatened in a city that should be a beacon of peace.”
Quoting Pope Leo XIV, he closed with a firm appeal to the conscience of the international community: “I once again call for an immediate end to the barbarity of war … to uphold humanitarian law, ensure the protection of civilians, and respect the prohibitions against collective punishment, the indiscriminate use of force, and the forced displacement of populations.”
His message was political and moral — a reminder that peace is a concrete responsibility. As violence continues to claim lives and fracture communities, the Holy See’s voice remains one of hope, urging the world to choose dialogue over division, justice over vengeance, and courage over fear.
You can read the whole statement here.
