Vatican City, May 21, 2025: In his first general audience since ascending to the papacy, Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday issued a heartfelt appeal for unhindered humanitarian aid to reach Gaza, and called for an end to the suffering of civilians caught in the ongoing conflict.
Addressing a crowd of approximately 40,000 faithful in St. Peter’s Square, the newly elected pope described the situation in Gaza as “heartbreaking,” emphasizing the toll it continues to take on children, the elderly, and the sick.
“I renew my heartfelt appeal to allow the entrance of dignified humanitarian aid to Gaza and to put an end to the hostilities whose heartbreaking price is being paid by children, the elderly, and sick people,” Pope Leo said.
This marked the first general audience for Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost of Chicago, who made history earlier this week by becoming the first American pope. His inaugural Mass on Sunday drew an estimated 200,000 attendees.
During the audience, Pope Leo rode through the piazza in the traditional popemobile, stopping several times to bless infants and greet pilgrims. He delivered his greetings in English, Spanish, and Italian, demonstrating his multilingual fluency and global outreach.
Notably, Pope Leo made no mention of the hostages taken during Hamas’s October 7, 2023 assault on southern Israel, a subject Pope Francis had frequently addressed. However, his remarks were widely seen as a continuation of the Vatican’s humanitarian focus in conflict zones.
The Wednesday general audience is a long-standing tradition that offers faithful the opportunity for a personal encounter with the pontiff. It typically includes a short reflection, scriptural commentary, and messages to various faith communities, ending with topical appeals from the pope.
The new pope concluded the event with his emerging hallmark phrase: “Peace be with you.”
In a separate development on Tuesday, the Vatican confirmed that Pope Leo reaffirmed his willingness to host the next round of ceasefire talks between Russia and Ukraine, during a phone call with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, according to a statement from the Italian government.
