Pope demands end to ‘collective punishment’ and forced displacement of Palestinians in Gaza World Aug 27, 2025 12:55 PM EDT

ROME (AP) — Pope Leo XIV demanded Wednesday that Israel stop the “collective punishment” and forced displacement of Palestinians in Gaza as he pleaded for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in the besieged territory amid preparations by Israel for a new military offensive.

Leo was interrupted twice by applause as he read aloud his latest appeal for an end to the 22-month war during his weekly general audience attended by thousands of people in the Vatican’s auditorium.

READ MORE: Pope urges fasting and prayer for peace in Middle East and Ukraine as he returns to Vatican

History’s first American pope also called for the release of hostages taken by Hamas in so

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