Pope criticised for failure to mention hostages in statement on Gaza
Leo XIV was speaking at a special mass in Rome with more than one million people in attendance
The Pope has been criticised for statements in which he described being “with the young people of Gaza” without any mention of the Israeli hostages who are still in the clutches of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
Leo XIV, who took office in May, was presiding over a Mass for the Jubilee of Young People at Rome’s Tor Vergata, with a million people said to be in attendance. In his closing remarks, he talked about how “we are closer than ever to young people who suffer the most serious evils which are caused by other human beings. We are with the young people of Gaza. We are with the young people of Ukraine, with those of every land bloodied by war.
“My young brothers and sisters, you are the sign that a different world is possible, a world of fraternity and friendship, where conflicts are not resolved with weapons but with dialogue.”
The Pope’s words were subsequently also posted on social media, where they were met with disappointment and condemnation for the lack of any mention of the hostages taken on 7 October, which began the current war in Gaza.
In the last few days, both Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) have released videos of emaciated hostages – Evyatar David and Rom Braslavsky. In the section of the PIJ video released to the public, Braslavsky speaks about how he is without food or water, and says: “I am on the verge of death”. In the Hamas video of David, he is forced to dig what he says is his own grave.
“The Pope is doing real damage to Jewish-Catholic relations”, responded Noah Pollack, a senior advisor at the US Department of Education, with close ties to the Trump administration.
Catholics were also among those who took issue with the statement. One said: “Evyatar David also needs your prayers”. Another asked: “Are these words being taken out of context? Is this the complete statement, or is it edited? Whoever runs this account for the Holy Father, please speak up. The youth (and people) of Gaza and Ukraine are not the only ones suffering.”
The Pope’s comments came after Israeli President Isaac Herzog urged world leaders to demand the hostages’ release, saying: “this is a test of humanity. Silence is not an option.”
The Vatican has been contacted for comment.
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