Pope Leo Talks to Palestinian President Abbas About Gaza

The hour-long meeting at the Vatican was described as cordial. It follows the U.S.-brokered ceasefire that started in Gaza last month, signaling a hopeful step towards peace. Though Pope Leo and Abbas hadn’t met face-to-face before, they previously discussed the situation during a phone call in July, focusing on Gaza and West Bank violence.

“Both sides agreed it’s crucial to help Gaza’s civilian population and to pursue a two-state solution to end the conflict,” the Vatican said in a brief statement. Just two months ago, Pope Leo and his top diplomats told Israel’s president that a two-state solution was the only way to resolve the war, urging a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.

President Abbas visited the Vatican to mark the 10th anniversary of the “Comprehensive Agreement between the Holy See and the State of Palestine.” He arrived in Rome on Wednesday and paid his respects at the tomb of late Pope Francis at the Basilica of St. Mary Major.

Abbas had a longstanding relationship with the late Pope Francis, meeting him several times and keeping in frequent contact after the violence erupted in Gaza following Hamas’ October 2023 attacks and Israel’s response.

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