Secretary of State Pietro Parolin denounces the situation in Gaza as “unacceptable”, urges an end to bombings in Gaza, immediate release of hostages, and an urgent truce in Ukraine.
The Vatican’s Secretary of State, Pietro Parolin, declared on Tuesday that “what is happening in Gaza is unacceptable” and stressed that “international humanitarian law must always and universally apply,” while also urging efforts toward achieving a truce in Ukraine.
“We call for the bombings to stop and for the necessary aid to reach the population: I believe the international community must do everything possible to end this tragedy. At the same time, we strongly reiterate our appeal to Hamas to immediately release all the hostages,” Parolin said in an interview published Tuesday in Vatican media.
In reference to the killing of two Israelis outside Israel’s embassy in Washington, Parolin added, “We must remain vigilant and ensure that the cancer of antisemitism, never definitively defeated, does not rise again.”
Regarding the Vatican’s offer to host new negotiations between Ukraine and Russia — an offer already rejected by the Russian side — Parolin clarified, “It was not a mediation, because mediation must be requested by the parties.” Instead, he explained, there was simply “an offer of availability to host a possible meeting.”
“In any case, it doesn’t matter where negotiations between Russians and Ukrainians — which we all hope for — are held. What truly matters is that these negotiations can finally begin, because it is urgent to stop the war,” Parolin emphasized.
“First and foremost, it is urgent to secure a truce to end the devastation, the destroyed cities, and the civilian casualties. Then, it is urgent to reach a stable, just, and lasting peace — one accepted and agreed upon by both sides,” he added.
Parolin also highlighted the words of Pope Leo XIV on peace: “The Pope and the entire Holy See are committed to building peace and promoting every initiative for dialogue and negotiation.”
Pope’s call
Pope Leo XIV has called for “courage and perseverance” for those involved in the “sincere” search for peace during Sunday’s Regina Coeli prayer, held for the first time from the window of the Apostolic Palace.
“Our prayer embraces all peoples suffering because of war; we invoke courage and perseverance for those engaged in dialogue and the sincere search for peace,” the Pontiff said.
In his catechesis, Leo XIV explained that one must focus on “the Lord’s mercy,” even when feeling “insufficient.”
“In everything the Lord calls us to — both in life and in faith — we sometimes feel insufficient. Yet precisely the Gospel of this Sunday tells us we must not focus on our own strength, but on the mercy of the Lord who has chosen us, confident that the Holy Spirit guides us and teaches us everything,” he affirmed.
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