“As a mother, I can’t stand to see the suffering of these children” in Gaza
Madonna requests the Pope: Visit Gaza “Before It’s Too Late”
by Christian Edwards e Catherine NichollsCNN
Madonna has appealed to Pope Leo XIV to visit Gaza on a humanitarian mission that helps the Palestinian children who are suffering from hunger. “There is no time left,” says Madonna.
The request of the American Superrestrial, which has a Roman Catholic education, was made in an Instagram publication this Monday. It begs the Pope to visit the enclave.
“Holy Father. Please go to Gaza and bring their light to children before it’s too late. As a mother, I can’t stand to see the suffering of these children. The children of the world belong to us all. Among us, the Lord is the only one to whom the entrance cannot be denied.”
Madonna justifies the request for Leo XIV to visit Gaza in this way: “Politics cannot cause change” but “consciousness can.”
The publication was made on Rocco’s birthday, son of Madonna. The singer explains that the best gift she could give her son would be “asking everyone to do what she is within her reach to help save the innocent children caught in the crossfire in Gaza.”
CNN contacted the Vatican to get a comment.
Since the beginning of his pontificate in May, the Pope has been firm in his criticism of the war began by Israel in Gaza, often expressing his concern with Palestinian civilians facing Israeli bombardments.
“I follow with great concern the terrible humanitarian situation in Gaza, where civilians suffer from severe hunger and remain exposed to violence and death,” he said in July, appealing to a ceasefire.
According to UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Agency, more than 18,000 children have been killed in Gaza since the beginning of the war in October 2023.
On average, 28 children are killed a day in that place, the agency said last week.
An Israeli blockade to enclave aid has resulted in what the World Health Organization (WHO) Chamoa “mass -caused man -made”.
Madonna clarified that “she is not pointing fingers, assigning guilt or taking parties.”
“They are all suffering. Including the mothers of the hostages. I pray that they are also released,” he said.
One of the answers to Madonna’s publication came from the WHO Director-General: Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus thanks the singer for “compassion, solidarity and commitment to take care of all those affected by the Gaza crisis, especially children.”
“It is extremely necessary. Humanity and peace must prevail,” he added.

At least 222 people – including 101 children – have died of malnutrition since the beginning of the war, according to the Ministry of Palestinian health.
Ramesh Rajatingham, head of the United Nations Office for Humanitarian Affairs Coordination (OCHA, in the English acronym), said the following at a UN Security Council meeting last Sunday: “This is no longer a crisis of imminent hunger. It is pure and simply hunger.”
Israel controls, with restrictions, the flow of help and staff to the enclave.
In July, in a rare episode, Israel allowed the visit of two religious leaders after attacking the only Gaza Catholic Church, killing three people and hurting many others.
The church served as shelter to the small Christian community of Gaza for almost two years of war.
Since then, the hunger crisis in Gaza has worsened, with the images of children with extreme thinness to activate the alerts globally.
“We need humanitarian gates to be totally open to save these innocent children,” Madonna wrote. And he joined, “There’s no time. Please say you’re going.”
It is unclear if the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would grant the Pope’s entrance into the enclave. However, Madonna’s appeal underlines the growing condemnation of this war, which has been going on for 22 months and has caused tension between Israel and its allies.
Australia, Canada and France announced plans to recognize a Palestinian state. The United Kingdom said last month that it will recognize a Palestinian state in September if Israel does not comply with a set of criteria, which include the acceptance of a ceasefire in Gaza.
Madonna’s comments come at a time when an increasing number of artists, including Massive Attack, Brian Eno and, more recently, U2, have highlighted the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
During a show in late 2023, Madonna also criticized Hamas led attacks on 7 October against Israel and the Israeli military response. He called him “a war from leaving the heart.”