Pope Leo’s appeals at the conclusion of the Sunday Angelus included a call for an end to violence directed against Palestinians in the West Bank; his hopes that sporting events can be a prophetic sign of peace and fraternity; and special greetings to Polish pilgrims taking part in the annual pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of Piekary Śląskie.
By Christopher Wells
Following the Angelus on Sunday, Pope Leo XIV once again called for an end “to the repeated acts of violence against the Palestinian population of the West Bank.” The Holy Father added an urgent appeal to the international community “to ensure that progress is made toward a two-state solution, for a just and lasting peace.”
The Holy See has consistently affirmed its position that the Two-State Solution, based on secure and internationally recognized borders, is the only viable and equitable path toward a just and lasting peace in the Holy Land, as noted by Archbishop Gabriele Caccia in an address to the UN in July of 2025.
Later that same year, the then-Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, reiterated the Holy See’s view that “Israel and Palestine” must one day be able to “live side by side in peace and security, within internationally recognised borders,” and he pointed out that genuine and lasting progress can only be achieved “through multilateralism, patient dialogue and inclusive cooperation, not through the use of force.”
‘A prophetic sign of peace and fraternity’
In his weekly Angelus address, Pope Leo also recalled the start of the Mediterranean Games, a multi-sport event with athletes from countries in Africa, Asia, and Europe that border the Mediterranean Sea. This year’s Games are being hosted by the city of Taranto in southern Italy.
Athletica Vaticana, the Holy See’s official sports association, will also participate in the event, with four athletes competing in the Games.
The Holy Father expressed his hope that the Games would be “a prophetic sign of peace and fraternity among the peoples of this region and of the whole world.”
Greetings to pilgrims
Finally, welcoming pilgrims from various countries from around the world, Pope Leo offered special greetings to the numerous participants in the traditional women’s pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of Piekary Śląskie in the region of Upper Silesia in Poland.
