Pope Leo XIV defended the creation of a Palestinian state, stating that it is the only way to solve the conflict in Gaza.
MADRID Nov. 30. (EUROPA PRESS).- The Pope Leo XIV argued this Sunday that the creation of a Palestinian state It is “the only solution” to the conflict, “but Israel still does not accept it.”
“We all know that, for the moment, Israel still does not accept this solution, but we consider it the only possible one,” said the Papa in statements to the press during his trip from Türkiye a Lebanon, where you are visiting.
“We are also friends of Israel and we seek to play a mediating role between both parties to help them find a fair solution for all,” Leo XIV explained in Italian.
Aboard the papal plane flying from Istanbul to Beirut, Pope Leo XIV thanks Türkiye’s authorities for their welcome and answers a pair of questions from reporters, expressing his hopes for peace in Ukraine and Gaza and confirming the desire to celebrate the 2033 Jubilee of…
— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) November 30, 2025
The Pontiff answered two questions from Turkish journalists during the flight, following the custom of his more recent predecessors who took advantage of plane trips to talk to the press.
In his response, Leo XIV confirmed that he has discussed the conflicts in Ukraine and Palestine with the Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and stressed that Turkey has “an important role to play” in both disputes. In addition, he highlighted that Erdogan’s government has already helped facilitate low-level contacts between Russia and Ukraine to try to end the war.