Pope Leo insists on 2-state solution to resolve Israel-Palestine conflict

The pontiff is acceptable to conscionable Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun and present a code to authorities and diplomats aboriginal today.

Pope Leo XIV reiterated the Vatican’s insistence connected a two-state solution for the Israeli-Palestinian struggle saying it’s the “only solution” that tin warrant justice for some sides.

Leo made the comments arsenic helium flew from Turkiye to Lebanon connected Sunday for the 2nd and last limb of his maiden voyage arsenic pope.

Recommended Stories

• list 1 of 4Israel attacks connected Syria: What happened, who did Israel assertion it was after?
• list 2 of 4Pope Leo warns ‘future of humanity is astatine stake’ during Turkiye visit
• list 3 of 4Pope Leo XIV begins Turkiye sojourn with prayers and unity message
• list 4 of 4Pope, Orthodox person people Christian milestone successful historical Turkiye meeting

On the flight, the pontiff was asked by reporters astir his backstage talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan upon his accomplishment successful Ankara, and whether they discussed the wars successful Gaza and Ukraine.

Leo confirmed they had and said Turkiye has an “important relation to play” to extremity some conflicts.

On Gaza, helium repeated the Holy See’s longstanding presumption supporting a two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinians. The instauration of a Palestinian authorities successful East Jerusalem, the occupied West Bank and Gaza has agelong been seen internationally arsenic the lone mode to resoluteness the decades-long conflict.

“We cognize that successful this moment, Israel doesn’t judge this solution, but we spot it arsenic the lone 1 that tin connection a solution to the struggle that they are surviving in,” said Leo. “We are besides friends with Israel and we effort with some sides to beryllium a mediating dependable that tin assistance bring them person to a solution with justness for all.”

The pope has avoided immoderate nonstop notation of Israel’s genocidal warfare connected Gaza portion successful Turkiye.

There was nary contiguous effect from the bureau of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He has agelong asserted that creating a Palestinian authorities would reward Hamas and yet pb to an adjacent larger Hamas-run authorities connected Israel’s borders.

Earlier this month, Netanyahu said Israel’s absorption to a Palestinian authorities has “not changed 1 bit” and isn’t threatened by outer oregon interior pressure. “I bash not request affirmations, tweets oregon lectures from anyone,” helium said.

‘Glimmer of hope’

The American pontiff landed successful Beirut and is present acceptable to conscionable Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun, the Arab world’s lone Christian caput of state, and present a code to authorities and diplomats astatine the statesmanlike palace aboriginal successful the afternoon.

Hours earlier Leo’s arrival, crowds gathered on roads from the airdrome to the statesmanlike palace, waving Lebanese and Vatican flags.

About 30 percent of the colonisation of Lebanon is Christian, portion the immense bulk are Muslim, astir fractional of whom beryllium to the Shia and Sunni branches of Islam.

Travelling overseas has go a large portion of the modern papacy, with popes seeking to conscionable section Catholics, dispersed the faith, and behaviour planetary diplomacy.

People stitchery to invited Pope Leo XIV arsenic helium arrives successful Lebanon [Louisa Gouliamaki/Reuters]

‘For the involvement of peace’

Lebanon’s divers communities person besides welcomed the papal travel with starring Druze cleric Sheikh Sami Abi al-Muna saying Lebanon “needs the glimmer of anticipation represented by this visit”.

Reinforcements from the Lebanese service and interior information forces were deployed to the airdrome earlier Leo’s arrival.

His convoy volition walk done Beirut’s confederate suburbs, an country wherever Hezbollah holds sway and wherever the terrain was battered successful past year’s Israeli aerial strikes. Hezbollah’s Imam al-Mahdi Scouts are to clasp a welcoming ceremonial by the roadside arsenic the convoy passes.

Leo’s docket includes a supplication astatine the tract of a 2020 detonation astatine the Beirut larboard that killed 200 radical and caused billions of dollars worthy of damage.

He volition besides pb an outdoor wide connected the Beirut waterfront and sojourn a psychiatric hospital, 1 of the fewer intelligence wellness facilities successful Lebanon, wherever healthcare workers and residents are eagerly anticipating his arrival.

Leo volition not question to the south, the people of Israeli attacks. Despite a United States-brokered ceasefire successful November 2024, Israel continues to motorboat near-daily aerial strikes connected confederate Lebanon.

The pope “is coming to bless america and for the involvement of peace”, said Farah Saadeh, a Beirut resident. “We person to hold and spot what volition hap aft helium leaves, and we anticipation thing is going to hap aft his departure,” Saadeh said.

Before Leo’s arrival, Hezbollah urged the pope to explicit his “rejection of injustice and aggression” that the state is being subjected to, a notation to the Israeli attacks.