President of the Palestinian Authority and pontiff met at the Vatican and recognized the urgent need for assistance to the population
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Pope Leo 14 during a meeting this Thursday (6.Nov.2025) the “urgent need” of a 2-State solution to end the conflict in the Gaza Strip. The meeting between the leaders took place at the Vatican and lasted approximately 1 hour in the papal apartments, where the pontiff traditionally receives heads of state.
The Holy See classified the conversations as “cordial” in an official statement. “During the cordial talks, it was recognized that there is an urgent need to provide assistance to the civilian population in Gaza and to end the conflict by seeking a 2-State solution,” informed the Vatican.
This was the first face-to-face meeting between Abbas and the pontiff, although the two had already spoken by phone on July 21 to discuss developments in the conflict in Gaza and violence in the West Bank. The meeting took place almost 1 month after the entry into .
In September, Pope Leo 14 and his top diplomats declared to Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu (Likud, right), that the 2-State solution was the solution. “the only way out of war”, while the Holy See called for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
Abbas’ visit to the headquarters of the Catholic Church marks the 10th anniversary of the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement between the Holy See and the State of Palestine. The president of the Palestinian Authority arrived in Rome on Wednesday (5.Nov) and visited the Basilica of Saint Mary Major to pay homage to Pope Francis’ tomb.
Speaking to journalists who were waiting for him on the steps of the church, Abbas said: “I came to see Pope Francis because I can’t forget what he did for Palestine and the Palestinian people, and I can’t forget that he recognized Palestine without anyone asking him to do so.”
Over the years, Abbas has met Pope Francis several times, maintaining frequent telephone contact after the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023 and the subsequent Israeli bombings of Gaza.
Historic agreement completes 10 years
The Comprehensive Agreement between the Holy See and the State of Palestine, signed on June 26, 2015, expresses the mutual commitment to Palestinian self-determination and the 2-State solution. The text also emphasizes the symbolic and spiritual significance of Jerusalem for Jews, Christians and Muslims.
The official statement did not disclose specific details on how humanitarian assistance would be implemented in Gaza or what the concrete next steps would be to advance the 2-State solution.
