Pope Leo XIV calls for aid to reach Gaza in his first general audience

Pope Leo XIV urged on Wednesday for the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the Gaza Strip and for an end to the suffering endured by its people, as he led his first general audience in St. Peter’s Square. Around 40,000 individuals attended the audience, following the large turnout of 200,000 at the inaugural Mass for the first American pope in history. Leo, previously Cardinal Robert Prevost of Chicago, interacted with the crowd, blessing babies and addressing various groups of pilgrims in English, Spanish, and Italian.

In his remarks, Leo emphasized the importance of allowing dignified humanitarian aid into Gaza and halting the devastating impact of ongoing hostilities, particularly on vulnerable populations like children, the elderly, and the sick. Notably absent from his speech was any mention of the hostages held by Hamas during the recent conflict in southern Israel, a departure from Pope Francis’ usual stance.

The weekly general audience is a long-standing tradition where the pope engages with ordinary believers, offering reflections on different themes or passages. Leo concluded the event with a call for peace, underscoring the Vatican’s readiness to host ceasefire discussions between Russia and Ukraine. Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni confirmed the Holy See’s offer after consultations with President Donald Trump and other European leaders, expressing gratitude for Pope Leo XIV’s unwavering commitment to peace.