Madonna urges the Pope to visit Gaza: “You are the only one of us who cannot be denied entry”
Madonna has urged Pope Leo to visit Gaza “before it’s too late”.
The pop star, who was raised a Roman Catholic, believes that Pope Leo is one of the only people who will be granted access to the brutal war zone. Notably, Israel banned journalists from Gaza, unless they agree to an Israeli military escort, following October 7th, 2023.
Writing on social media, Madonna addressed Pope Leo by posting: “Most Holy Father, Please go to Gaza and bring your light to the children before it’s too late. As a mother, I cannot bear to watch their suffering. The children of the world belong to everyone. You are the only one of us who cannot be denied entry.”
She continued: “We need the humanitarian gates to be fully opened to save these innocent children. There is no more time. Please say you will go. Love, Madonna.”
In the caption to her post, Madonna explained how it was her son Rocco’s birthday and she feels “the best gift I can give to him as a Mother – is to ask everyone to do what they can to help save the innocent children caught in the crossfire in Gaza.”
The pop icon elaborated on her stance: “I am not pointing fingers, placing blame or taking sides. Everyone is suffering. I am merely trying to do what I can to keep these children from dying of starvation.”
Madonna then encouraged her followers on social media to donate to World Central Kitchen, which provides food to areas suffering from humanitarian crises, and Women Wage Peace, which is a politically unaffiliated movement seeking to find a resolution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Both Pope Leo and his predecessor, Pope Francis, have publicly condemned the atrocities in Gaza, which the latter highlighted during his Christmas address in 2024.
Following an Israeli attack on a Catholic parish in Gaza last month, Pope Leo expressed his “deep sorrow” and called for “an immediate halt to the barbarity”. He also said the incident was “just one of the continuous military attacks against the civilian population and places of worship in Gaza”.
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