Israeli President Isaac Herzog met Pope Leo at the Vatican on Thursday, September 4, 2025. During the audience, the Pope addressed the “tragic situation” in Gaza and stressed the need “to ensure a future for the Palestinian people,” calling a two-state solution “the only way out of the ongoing war.” Herzog, for his part, said Israel is committed to safeguarding Christian communities across the Middle East.
Arriving around 10 a.m. under tight security, Herzog was received by the Pope and later by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin in the Apostolic Palace. In an unusually detailed statement released late in the day, the Holy See’s Press Office summarized both the meeting in the Secretariat of State and the conversation with the Pope in his apartments.
According to the communiqué, the main focus was the “many conflicts in the Middle East,” with particular attention to Gaza. The Holy See voiced hope for a “rapid resumption of negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians,” urging “courageous decisions” and international support to secure the release of hostages, agree “as a matter of urgency” to a permanent cease-fire, and enable humanitarian access.
The statement underscored the “full respect” owed to international humanitarian law. It said the parties discussed “how to ensure a future for the Palestinian people as well as peace and stability in the region,” with the Holy See reaffirming that a two-state solution is the only viable path out of the current war. The talks also touched on the West Bank, the “important” question of Jerusalem, and the place of Christian communities in the Middle East.
On X, Herzog thanked the Pope for his “warm welcome” and for his leadership in promoting peace. Without directly mentioning Gaza, he called the release of Israeli hostages “the first essential step toward a better future for the entire region” and said, “Israel longs for the day when the peoples of the Middle East—the children of Abraham—will live together in peace, partnership, and hope.” He added that Israel is “committed to religious freedom,” “proud of its Christian community,” and determined to ensure the “security and well-being” of Christians in the Holy Land and throughout the region.
Herzog, who flew in and out of Rome the same day, was also slated to visit the Vatican Library and Archives. His office said the visit would focus on securing the hostages’ release, combating global antisemitism, and safeguarding Christian communities in the Middle East.
In July, Pope Leo XIV expressed “deep sorrow” after an Israeli strike on Gaza’s only Catholic parish left three dead and several wounded, including the pastor, Fr. Gabriel Romanelli. He phoned Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urging the release of hostages and an end to the “barbarity of war.”
While executive power in Israel lies with the prime minister, Herzog has at times diverged publicly. In March, he said he was “deeply troubled” by the renewed offensive in Gaza, yet on July 23, during a visit to the Strip, he maintained Israeli operations were conducted “in accordance with international law” and blamed aid disruptions on Hamas and its supporters.
