Pope Leo XIV expressed his concern to the press about the “truly serious” situation following Israel's air strikes against Hamas officials in Doha, Qatar, on September 9, 2025. The Pope was leaving Castel Gandolfo, where he had spent a day of rest at his residence south of Rome. He is due to return to the Vatican after this break and will preside over the Wednesday general audience tomorrow, as he does every week.
The Pope, who met with the Israeli president on September 4, expressed his concern regarding the situation and called for insistent work and prayer for peace.
Upon leaving the Villa Barberini, where he spent the night in the village in the Castelli Romani region that is home to the popes' summer residence, Pope Leo XIV responded to questions from journalists from Rai about the situation in the Middle East.
Praying, working, searching, and insisting on a peaceful solution
The Pope expressed concern about the “very serious news” that had arrived in recent hours, referring to Israel's attack on the capital of Qatar, located some 1,050 miles from Jerusalem.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the strikes targeted Hamas officials in response to Monday's shooting in Jerusalem.
The Pontiff, who received Israeli President Isaac Herzog at the Vatican on September 4, also expressed concern for the city of Gaza. More than 1.2 million people are believed to still be present there despite the Israeli army's intensified bombing in recent weeks.
The Pope said he had tried to contact the priest of Gaza's only Catholic parish, Father Gabriel Romanelli, whom Pope Francis called regularly, but that he had no news of the Catholic community in the besieged city at this time.
As he got into his car to return to the Vatican, he said that “we must pray a lot and keep working, searching” and “insisting” on a peaceful solution.
Pope Leo XIV arrived Monday evening at Castel Gandolfo for a day in the countryside, while continuing his activities, the Holy See Press Office explained. Tuesday is usually a day without public engagements for popes.
