Pope Leo XIV reflected on the anniversary of the October 7 terrorist attack in Israel and the subsequent start of the war in Gaza on Tuesday, telling reporters that there needs to be an increase in dialogue to solve the conflict.
“These have been two very painful years," said Pope Leo XIV, speaking to reporters outside of Castel Gandolfo.
The brief exchange has become a Tuesday routine, as the Holy Father spends the day at the papal summer residence, and reporters stop him to ask questions as he leaves to return to the Vatican.
"Two years ago, 1,200 people were killed in a terrorist attack. We must think about how much hatred exists in the world and begin to ask ourselves what we can do," he said. "In two years, around 67,000 Palestinians have been killed. We must reduce hatred, we must rediscover the ability to dialogue, to seek peaceful solutions.”
Pope Leo condemned both terrorism and antisemitism in his remarks to reporters, saying that the dignity of every person needs to be respected.
"We cannot accept groups that engage in terrorism," he said, saying that this "must always be rejected."
He continued, "At the same time, the existence of antisemitism, whether it is increasing or not, is concerning. We must always proclaim peace, and respect for the dignity of every person. This is the message of the Church.”
Pope asks for prayers for peace
During the month of October, "the Church has asked everyone to pray for peace," said Pope Leo, adding "we will also seek, in ways available to the Church, to promote dialogue at all times.”
The Holy Father was referring to a special appeal he made at the end of September, asking the faithful to pray the Rosary every day in this month dedicated to the Rosary, for the intention of peace.
Pope Leo XIV was also asked about a comment from the Israeli Embassy to the Holy See regarding Monday's interview from Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin with L'Osservatore Romano and Vatican News.
Pope Leo XIV stood by Parolin, saying, "the Cardinal very clearly expressed the Holy See’s position on this matter.”
In the interview, Cardinal Parolin said that Israel had not responded to the attack from Hamas with proportional restraint. He also reiterated the call that the Holy See has made for years: for a two-state solution to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict.
A press release from the Israeli Embassy stated that Parolin's comment "risks undermining efforts to both end the war in Gaza and counter rising antisemitism," even though the comments were "surely well-intentioned."
"Most concerning is the problematic use of moral equivalence where it does not belong. For example, the application of the term 'massacre' to both Hamas’ genocidal October 7th attack and Israel’s legitimate right to self-defense," said the release. "There is no moral equivalence between a democratic state protecting its citizens and a terrorist organization intent on killing them."
This isn't the first time the Israeli embassy has criticized Vatican comments on the war.
For example, when Pope Francis said in late 2024 that it should be investigated if what is occurring in Gaza could be considered a genocide, the embassy also took issue with his words. The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel found last month that "Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip."
Read more from Cardinal Parolin's interview below:
