Pope Leo XIV. on Sunday confirmed that the Holy See supports the so-called a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. According to him, it is the “only solution” that could guarantee justice for both parties. It was reported by the AP agency, writes TASR.
The Pope spoke to journalists during a flight from Istanbul, Turkey to Beirut, Lebanon. Lebanon is his second and last stop on his first foreign trip since becoming head of the Catholic Church.
AP noted that although Leo XIV. had already answered questions from journalists in informal meetings at his country seat, the brief meeting with them on Sunday’s flight was his first “press conference” at the Pope’s office. However, it was limited to two questions from Turkish journalists.
Leo XIV. after one of the questions, he confirmed that in a private conversation with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan after arriving in Ankara, he also discussed the wars in the Gaza Strip and Ukraine. According to him, Turkey can play an important role in both of these conflicts. He noted that Erdogan’s government has already helped broker low-level talks between Russia and Ukraine.
“Unfortunately, we still haven’t seen a solution. However, today there are new, concrete proposals for peace,” he said. In his own words, he hopes that Erdogan will continue the dialogue with Ukraine, Russia and the US to help achieve a ceasefire and an end to the war.
On the Gaza Strip, he reiterated the long-standing position of the Holy See, which supports a two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinians. The Holy See recognized a Palestinian state in 2015, but efforts for such a solution received new impetus this year during the war between Israel and the Hamas movement in Gaza. Several other countries officially recognized the Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly.
“We know that at this moment Israel does not agree with this solution, but we consider it the only one that can offer a solution to the conflict in which it lives,” said the Pope. “We are also friends of Israel and we are trying to mediate between the two sides to help them get closer to a solution that is fair to all.” he added.
