“Lay Down Your Arms” — Pope Leo XIV Chastises Israel for Airstrikes Ahead of Lebanon Visit

In a four-minute, four-language press conference, Pope Leo XIV delivered a rapid, panoramic moral briefing to the world.

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At Castel Gandolfo on Tuesday evening, Pope Leo XIV once again stopped to field questions from waiting journalists, turning a casual roadside chat into a whirlwind press conference.

In the span of just four minutes, the pontiff nimbly switched between four languages to answer a flurry of questions on war and peace, human dignity, and gratitude. When asked if he had a message for the warring parties in the Middle East, Leo did not mince words.

He implored Israelis and Hezbollah alike to “look for peace, to look for justice, because oftentimes violence occurs as a result of injustices,” urging both sides to seek dialogue and unity instead of vengeance.

“Look for Peace, Look for Justice”

The pope’s brief remarks carried a weight far beyond their brevity. Standing outside the papal villa, he addressed the flare-up of violence in Lebanon — including Israeli airstrikes on Hezbollah positions — and called it “always a concern.”

Weapons are not the answer, Leo stressed, urging all involved to abandon arms as a way of solving problems and come to the table to talk.

“Respect one another, sit down together…and work together for solutions for the problems that affect us,” he pleaded.

Referring specifically to Israel and Hezbollah, the pope appealed for a different path: pursue justice to remove the injustices that so often fuel violence, and “work together for greater unity [and] respect for all people and all religions.”

In just a few sentences, Pope Leo managed to outline the moral high ground for a conflict-torn region — lay down arms, listen to each other, and address the grievances that ignite war.

A Message of Christian Unity

Reporters also asked Pope Leo about his impending visit to the Middle East, which begins in Türkiye and will culminate in Lebanon later this weekcatholicnewsagency.com.

The trip — timed to mark the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea — is meant as a pilgrimage of hope and reconciliation. Leo XIV said he is “very happy to be able to visit Lebanon” and noted that the journey’s message will be one of peace and hope, especially in this Jubilee Year of Hope.

Just days ago, he published a document on the importance of unity in faith as a source of peace for the world.

Now, at Nicaea’s historic site (modern İznik) and in Beirut, he aims to put that into action. “I think it will be an exceptional opportunity to promote unity among all Christians,” Leo said of the trip.

He highlighted recent warm meetings with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople — a clear sign that the Pope sees Catholic-Orthodox solidarity as critical for healing divisions.

In an era of global fractures, Leo is leveraging the symbolism of Nicaea to remind believers that what unites Christians is far greater than what divides.

His four-minute briefing underscored that Christian unity and peacemaking go hand in hand in the Pope’s vision.

“Every Person Deserves Respect” — Ending Violence Against Women

Tuesday’s date also marked the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, giving Pope Leo an opening to denounce this tragedy and call for nothing less than a cultural transformation.

Asked about the scourge of abuse, Leo XIV insisted “we must begin with the formation of young people,” because “every person deserves respect.”

Society’s mentality toward women and girls needs to change, he emphasized, starting in our schools, families, and communities. The pope appealed for an end to all violence — which often ensnares the young as well — and urged the creation of “a different mentality” built on recognizing each person’s God-given dignity.

“We must be people of peace who wish good for everyone,” he said, extending his constant Gospel message of compassion to this urgent issue.

In Leo’s view, protecting women from harm isn’t a “women’s issue” alone — it’s a measure of our collective soul. His off-the-cuff exhortation Tuesday was a reminder that true faith stands against any form of domination or cruelty. '

A society where every woman is safe and valued begins with educating the next generation in mutual respect and equality.

“Say Thank You to Someone” — Leo’s Thanksgiving Message

In conclusion, one reporter couldn’t resist asking how an American pope plans to observe Thanksgiving while abroad.

Pope Leo grinned at the question and turned it into a broader exhortation for the world.

He noted that Thanksgiving, “this beautiful feast we have in the United States,” is beloved because it unites people of all faiths and even those of no faith in gratitude.

Even far from home, Leo said, he would be celebrating by giving thanks — and he urged everyone, not just Americans, to do the same.

“Recognize that we all have received so many gifts, first and foremost the gift of life, the gift of faith, the gift of unity,” the pope said, and take time “to say thank you to someone” around you.

Above all, he added, give thanks to God for the blessings we’ve been given,

In four short minutes, Pope Leo XIV managed to traverse the desperate need for peace in the Middle East, the hope of Christian unity, the fight against violence, and the simple act of gratitude that can renew our common humanity.

It was a panoramic moral briefing — delivered in four languages with the personal warmth of a pastor — and it left the world with both a challenge and a thanksgiving hope.