Vatican officials, Palestinian president discuss Gaza's serious humanitarian needs

Pope Francis met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, where they discussed the "serious" humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

According to the Vatican, the two leaders, who have met several times in the past, spent half an hour in a private audience focusing on peace efforts and the situation in the region, Caliber.Az reports citing foreign media.

Following the audience with the Pope, Abbas met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Holy See's Secretary of State, and Paul Richard Gallagher, the Vatican’s foreign minister. Discussions centered on the Church's aid in addressing the “very serious humanitarian situation in Gaza,” with a focus on achieving a ceasefire, the release of hostages, and the continued pursuit of a two-state solution through dialogue and diplomacy, as outlined in a Vatican statement.

This meeting comes just days after a photo of Pope Francis praying before a nativity scene at the Vatican, where the baby Jesus’s manger was draped in a black and white keffiyeh scarf, a symbol of Palestinian resistance. The image sparked a protest from the Israeli embassy, which called for the removal of the keffiyeh.

Since the unprecedented Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, and the subsequent Israeli military response in Gaza, Pope Francis has consistently called for peace. In recent weeks, his remarks have become more critical of the Israeli offensive. In late November, he remarked that "the invader's arrogance... prevails over dialogue" in Palestine, a rare stance that diverged from the Vatican’s traditional neutral position.

In a forthcoming book, Pope Francis called for a "careful" examination to determine if the situation in Gaza could meet the technical definition of genocide, a claim strongly rejected by Israel. He also condemned the "immoral" use of force in both Lebanon and Gaza in late September.

The Holy See has recognized the State of Palestine since 2013 and maintains diplomatic relations with it, supporting the two-state solution. Abbas is also scheduled to meet with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and President Sergio Mattarella in Rome.