Pope Leo XIV has reiterated the Vatican’s firm support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, calling it the “only solution” capable of delivering justice to both sides. The remarks came aboard his flight from Türkiye to Lebanon on Sunday, marking the second and final leg of his first international trip as Pontiff.
During the in-flight media interaction, the Pope confirmed that the wars in Gaza and Ukraine featured prominently in his private discussions with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during his stop in Ankara. He said Türkiye has “an important role to play” in efforts to end both conflicts.
On Gaza, the Pope restated the Holy See’s longstanding position backing the creation of a Palestinian state encompassing East Jerusalem, the occupied West Bank and Gaza. He acknowledged Israel’s current rejection of this path but maintained that it remained the only viable route toward a just and lasting resolution.
“We know that in this moment, Israel doesn’t accept this solution, but we see it as the only one that can offer a solution to the conflict that they are living in,” he said. “We are also friends with Israel, and we try with both sides to be a mediating voice that can help bring them closer to a solution with justice for all.”
The pontiff avoided direct references to Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza during his engagements in Türkiye.
There was no immediate response from the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has long argued that establishing a Palestinian state would strengthen Hamas and threaten Israel’s security. Earlier this month, Netanyahu said Israel’s opposition to Palestinian statehood “has not changed one bit” and would not shift under external or internal pressure.
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