Pope Leo XIV solidified his stance on a two-state solution for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict during his maiden voyage as pope. Speaking to journalists aboard the papal plane en route from Istanbul to Beirut, the American pontiff reiterated that this path was "the only solution" capable of guaranteeing justice for both Israelis and Palestinians.
Leo's comments came amidst Turkey's ongoing efforts to mediate a ceasefire in Gaza, which has been ravaged by war. He acknowledged President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government had helped facilitate low-level negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, aiming to bring an end to the nearly four-year conflict. However, Leo expressed disappointment that no tangible progress had been made.
The Pope reaffirmed the Holy See's long-standing support for a two-state solution, with international recognition of a Palestinian state in east Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza serving as a crucial step towards resolving the conflict. He emphasized that this path was the most viable means to address the underlying issues driving the dispute.
In contrast, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has strongly opposed creating a Palestinian state, arguing it would reward Hamas and lead to an even larger Hamas-run state on Israel's borders. The two-state solution remains contentious, with Netanyahu continuing to assert that his stance has not changed despite external pressure.
During his trip to Istanbul, Pope Leo XIV focused primarily on commemorating the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea in Iznik, a significant gathering of bishops from across the Roman Empire. The Nicaean Creed remains a unifying force among Christian denominations, and the Pope proposed that Orthodox patriarchs join him in Jerusalem to commemorate the 2,000th anniversary of Christ's crucifixion and resurrection in 2033.
While Leo's comments on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict were brief, they underscored his commitment to finding a peaceful resolution through diplomacy and dialogue.
Leo's comments came amidst Turkey's ongoing efforts to mediate a ceasefire in Gaza, which has been ravaged by war. He acknowledged President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government had helped facilitate low-level negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, aiming to bring an end to the nearly four-year conflict. However, Leo expressed disappointment that no tangible progress had been made.
The Pope reaffirmed the Holy See's long-standing support for a two-state solution, with international recognition of a Palestinian state in east Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza serving as a crucial step towards resolving the conflict. He emphasized that this path was the most viable means to address the underlying issues driving the dispute.
In contrast, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has strongly opposed creating a Palestinian state, arguing it would reward Hamas and lead to an even larger Hamas-run state on Israel's borders. The two-state solution remains contentious, with Netanyahu continuing to assert that his stance has not changed despite external pressure.
During his trip to Istanbul, Pope Leo XIV focused primarily on commemorating the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea in Iznik, a significant gathering of bishops from across the Roman Empire. The Nicaean Creed remains a unifying force among Christian denominations, and the Pope proposed that Orthodox patriarchs join him in Jerusalem to commemorate the 2,000th anniversary of Christ's crucifixion and resurrection in 2033.
While Leo's comments on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict were brief, they underscored his commitment to finding a peaceful resolution through diplomacy and dialogue.
... like wasn't he just the other day talking about how Christians should love their enemies or something? 
Anywayz, I don't know if a two-state solution would really work, what with all the land disputes and stuff... it feels like they'd both just end up fighting over more borders 
.
... so, like, he wants a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine but it's not clear who's gonna be in charge of what state 
... or maybe it's like when you're at the park and you can't decide which slide to go on 
... anyway, I don't know how all this is gonna work out 
... I mean, I guess it's good that Pope Leo XIV is trying to help, but what if no one agrees? 
. The two-state solution is like, a really good idea, you know? And I'm all about international recognition of a Palestinian state - it's like, a step in the right direction towards peace and stuff 
. I don't think Netanyahu's stance on this is fair at all though... I mean, what's the point of not wanting to create a Palestinian state if its gonna lead to more conflict? 
Anyway, its great that Pope Leo XIV is trying to bring everyone together through diplomacy and dialogue - we need more of that in the world! 
He's like trying to bring peace to two very passionate groups at the same time... it's not easy! 
. Its like, we all know what needs to be done, but its hard to get people to put aside their differences and work towards peace 
. I'm not gonna lie, I've been following this conflict for years and I still dont see a clear path forward 
. Maybe Pope Leo XIV can bring some much-needed pressure to the table? 
it's about time we focus on finding a way to bring peace to that beautiful region 
instead of just talking heads in politics who only care about winning elections 
. pope leo seems like a real champion for unity and justice 
️, even if netanyahu is being super stubborn 
It's just another case of rich guy politics. The Pope thinks diplomacy will work this time, but history tells us otherwise... 
. Like, can you imagine Israel and Palestine living in harmony? 
. Can't wait to see what else this Pope has up his sleeve! 
It's tough when people have strong feelings about where their homeland should be.