Pope Leo XIV made a powerful appeal to the international community on Wednesday, August 27, urging an end to the war in Gaza and calling for humanitarian aid to flow freely into the enclave

SHOTLIST: VATICAN (AUGUST 27, 2025) (ANADOLU - ACCESS ALL) 1. VARIOUS OF POPE LEO XIV ARRIVING FOR HIS WEEKLY GENERAL AUDIENCE 2. CROWD OF PEOPLE SEATED IN PAUL VI HALL 3. VARIOUS OF POPE LEO XIV DELIVERING SPEECH (Italian) VATICAN CITY, AUGUST 27, 2025: Pope Leo XIV made a powerful appeal to the international community on Wednesday, Aug. 27, urging an end to the war in Gaza and calling for humanitarian aid to flow freely into the enclave. Speaking during his weekly general audience at Paul VI Hall in the Vatican, the pontiff said: "Today I renew a strong appeal both to the parties involved and to the international community, that an end be put to the conflict in the Holy Land, which has caused so much terror, destruction, and death." The Latin and Greek Orthodox Patriarchs of Jerusalem issued a joint appeal for peace in Gaza on Tuesday, condemning "the deliberate and forcible mass displacement of civilians." Joining their call, Pope Leo XIV also recalled the Day of Prayer and Fasting for Peace, held on Friday, August 22. He also called for the safe entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza and the protection of civilians. “I appeal for all hostages to be freed, a permanent ceasefire to be reached, the safe entry of humanitarian aid to be facilitated, and humanitarian law to be fully respected—especially the obligation to protect civilians and the prohibitions against collective punishment, the indiscriminate use of force, and the forced displacement of populations,” he added.