Speaking at the end of his catechesis during the second general audience of his pontificate on Wednesday, May 28, Pope Leo XIV expressed deep sorrow over the suffering in Gaza.

“In Gaza,” he said, “the ever more intense tears of mothers and fathers, clutching the lifeless bodies of their children, rise up to heaven.”

As Israel continues its military campaign and the death toll since Oct. 7, 2023, reportedly surpasses 54,000, the pope lamented the condition of survivors who, he said, are “forced to constantly move in search of food and safer shelter from the bombings.”

Call for a cease-fire

Pope Leo XIV addressed world leaders directly, issuing a passionate plea that was met with applause from the crowd: “Cease the fire. Free all the hostages. Respect humanitarian law in full.”

In recent days, numerous NGOs have condemned the inadequate trickle of humanitarian aid that has resumed after being blocked since March. A food distribution operation overseen by the Israeli military on May 27 ended in tragedy.

Meanwhile, in a Vatican media interview on May 27, Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin called the situation in Gaza “unacceptable.” He urged the international community to stop the bombings and ensure vital aid is delivered. Parolin also demanded that Hamas immediately release all remaining Israeli hostages and return the bodies of those who have been killed.

Ending the War in Ukraine

At the conclusion of the general audience, Pope Leo XIV also renewed his call for peace in Ukraine. With talks possibly resuming between Ukraine and Russia, the pope voiced his support for “all initiatives of dialogue and peace.”

“These days, my thoughts are especially with the Ukrainian people, who have been struck by renewed and severe attacks on civilians and infrastructure,” the pope said. Addressing nearly 40,000 faithful, he offered prayers “for all the victims, especially the children and families.”

Russian forces have intensified their bombardment of Ukraine in recent days.

“I renew with urgency my appeal to end the war and to support every initiative for dialogue and peace,” Pope Leo XIV said. “I ask everyone to join me in praying for peace in Ukraine.”

On May 19, U.S. President Donald Trump mentioned the Vatican as a potential venue for negotiations between the warring parties.

The “Good Samaritan”

Earlier in the audience, during his catechesis, Pope Leo XIV reflected: “Before it is a religious question, compassion is a question of humanity.” He warned against the dangers of rushing through life and of having a “rigid and closed” way of seeing the world.

Since general audiences resumed May 21, the new pope has continued the catechesis series on hope begun by his predecessor, Pope Francis, on Dec. 18, 2024. The theme was chosen in connection with the Jubilee Year being celebrated throughout 2025 in Rome.

After touring St. Peter’s Square in the popemobile, Leo XIV meditated on the parable of the Good Samaritan—a passage especially dear to Pope Francis. The story, the American pontiff said, symbolizes the path of life, on which “we encounter the other, in their fragility and weakness, and we must decide what we will do: care for them, or pass them by as if nothing had happened.”