Pope Leo calls for release of hostages, end of ‘collective punishment’ in Gaza

At the end of his Wednesday catechesis, Pope Leo issued an appeal for Gaza, asking for the release of all hostages held by Hamas and an end to the “collective punishment” of Palestinians in the besieged strip.

Speaking in Italian, Pope Leo recalled that “last Friday, we accompanied our brothers and sisters suffering because of war with prayer and fasting. Today, I once again make a strong appeal to both the parties involved and the international community to end the conflict in the Holy Land, which has caused so much terror, destruction, and death.”

“I implore that all hostages be released, a permanent ceasefire be reached, the safe entry of humanitarian aid be facilitated, and humanitarian law be fully respected, particularly the obligation to protect civilians and the prohibitions on collective punishment, the indiscriminate use of force, and the forced displacement of populations,” the Pope said. 

“I join in the Joint Declaration of the Greek Orthodox and Latin Patriarchs of Jerusalem, who yesterday called for ‘an end to this spiral of violence, an end to the war, and a priority for the common good of all people,’” he added.

The Pope concluded by imploring: “Mary, Queen of Peace, source of consolation and hope, may her intercession obtain reconciliation and peace in that land so dear to all!”