Pope Leo: Palestinian State Is the ‘Only Solution’ to Israeli Conflict
En route to Lebanon, the pope delivers his strongest call yet for a two-state solution, blasting Israel’s war in Gaza and urging peace with justice for all sides.
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Pope Leo XIV used his flight Sunday from Turkey to Lebanon to make his most forceful appeal yet for peace in the Holy Land.
Speaking to journalists aboard the papal plane, Leo said the “only solution” to the decades-long conflict between Israelis and Palestinians must include an independent Palestinian state.
“We all know that at this time Israel still does not accept that solution, but we see it as the only solution,” he told reporters, reaffirming the Vatican’s stance on a two-state outcome.
Leo’s remarks were unusually blunt for a pontiff known for careful diplomacy.
He stressed that the Holy See remains a friend to Israel and wants to serve as a bridge-builder:
“We are also friends with Israel and we are seeking to be a mediating voice between the two parties... to help them close in on a solution with justice for everyone,” Leo said.
Yet his message on Sunday was clear.
The pope essentially warned that peace will remain out of reach without a Palestinian state.
It comes as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government flatly rejects that idea.
Ramping Up Criticism of Gaza War
This isn’t the first time Leo XIV has challenged Israel’s approach.
In recent months, he has grown increasingly outspoken about the humanitarian nightmare in Gaza, where Israel’s army is entrenched.
Earlier this year, Leo blasted Israel’s siege of Gaza, warning that starving civilians is “a very cheap way to wage war.”
Pope Leo Just Called Out Israel’s War Tactic. Will the World Listen?
“Starving people to death is a very cheap way of waging war. It must end.” — Pope Leo
Still, his in-flight comments on Sunday went further than ever, moving beyond a humanitarian plea to a political prescription.
By calling a two-state solution “the only solution,” Leo elevated his critique to the level of policy, effectively urging action, not just restraint.
Most Substantive Remarks to Date
For Pope Leo, these were his most substantive remarks on the conflict to date. The timing is significant.
He delivered this bold message while flying into Lebanon, a country scarred by conflict, and made clear that true peace in the region hinges on justice for Palestinians.
In Leo’s eyes, the cycle of violence will not be broken by military might or occupation, but by recognizing Palestinian rights and statehood.
It’s a stance rooted in longstanding Vatican policy, but Leo’s frankness lends it fresh moral urgency.
Whether Israel’s leaders and its backers in the United States and elsewhere will heed the pope’s words remains to be seen, but Pope Leo has left no doubt where he stands.
Netanyahu has said he will never accept a two state solution. He has also asked the president for clemency. He’s a murderer and charged with corruption.
Bravo!🙌