Pope Francis expressed deep sorrow on Saturday over the recent Israeli airstrikes on Gaza, condemning the bombing of children in the region. Speaking to members of the Vatican’s administration, the Pope described the attacks as “cruelty” rather than warfare, emphasizing that such actions deeply affected him.
He also criticized the Israeli airstrikes for preventing Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Vatican’s top representative in the Holy Land, from entering Gaza. Since the beginning of Israel’s military operations following the October 7 Hamas attacks, over 45,000 people, mostly women and children, have been killed, with large parts of Gaza reduced to rubble.
The Pope’s remarks coincide with growing international pressure on Israel, with the International Criminal Court issuing arrest warrants for Israeli leaders over alleged war crimes. Additionally, Israel faces accusations of genocide related to its military campaign in Gaza. Pope Francis has also called for a thorough investigation into whether Israel’s actions amount to genocide, according to excerpts from an upcoming book.
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