"Stop This Slaughter" — Pope Leo Blasts Netanyahu
Pope Leo joins his predecessor in condemning the Israeli PM as relations between Israel and the Vatican plunge to a new low.

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Paid subscriptions start at only $6.67 per month and will get you full access to this multi-part series on the life and formation of Pope Leo. The second part of the series was released earlier this week.
After Gaza’s only Catholic church — Holy Family Parish — was hit on July 17, killing at least three people, Pope Leo wasted no words.
The church had been sheltering hundreds of displaced Gazans, and the Israeli shelling drew swift Vatican outrage.
The pope immediately renewed urgent calls for a ceasefire and protection of civilians and holy sites, flatly telling Netanyahu, “It is time to stop this slaughter”.
Nothing short of an immediate ceasefire would satisfy the Vatican now.
Pope Leo’s Stern Rebuke
Leo again pleaded for a ceasefire and urged protection for Gaza’s civilians and holy sites. Vatican sources note the Latin Patriarchate had already branded the church strike “humanly and morally unjustified” and demanded the war end immediately.
Now the pope echoed that call: he vowed to do everything possible to end the war’s “needless slaughter of innocents”.
Vatican aides say Leo repeatedly warned Israel to safeguard civilian sanctuaries — those warnings were clearly ignored.
Vatican Envoy’s Skepticism

The Vatican’s anger was matched by its envoy on the ground. Latin Patriarch Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa flew into Gaza on Friday with aid and flatly rejected Israel’s claim it was an accident:
“We are not a target. The Israeli government says it was an error. Not many here believe it was.”
Vatican editor Andrea Tornielli warned that calling it a “mistake” is “hardly reassuring” given the pattern of attacks on holy sites.
For its part, Israel’s military said it “deeply regrets” the incident and would investigate — but to Gaza’s faithful, that was cold comfort.
No Love Lost with Netanyahu

Pope Francis — whose close friend Father Gabriel Romanelli was injured in the strike — was an early and outspoken critic of Israel’s Gaza war. He even denounced a prior attack on Gaza’s church as “terrorism”.
Leo is following suit. His message is the same: this killing “must come to a complete end”, and he will do “everything possible to stop the needless slaughter”.
This wasn’t a polite papal request but an ultimatum: end the bloodshed immediately.
For Netanyahu, the message could not be clearer: the Vatican is no longer willing to defend the Israeli leader in any capacity whatsoever. In Rome’s view, any remaining reservoir of goodwill toward Netanyahu has fully run dry.
Thank you so much for reading this article. We are 100% sustained by your generosity. If you find value in my work, please consider supporting me by becoming a paid subscriber today.
Paid subscriptions start at only $6.67 per month and will get you full access to this multi-part series on the life and formation of Pope Leo. The second part of the series was released earlier this week.
Unfortunately I doubt Netanyahu cares what the pope or most other people think. He’ll continue the bombing as long as the US gives unqualified support via arms and other aid. This country aids and abets a monster.
Ceasefire is a beginning. He needs to call for an end to occupation which every year has been osloizing (process of increasing settlements under the UN mask of a two state solution) slaughter to see with how much they can get away.