Pope Francis Condemns Gaza Crisis, Urges Global Action

Pope Francis calls Israel’s conduct in Gaza “shameful” and calls for international action on humanitarian issues in a more forceful statement. The Pope recently condemned the plight in Gaza, drawing worldwide attention to a dire humanitarian crisis.

Papal Condemnation

Pope Francis intensified his condemnation of the Israeli military actions in Gaza, describing the current humanitarian state as “very serious and shameful.” An aide read his statement during his annual address to diplomats because he was recovering from a cold. He called for immediate global intervention and expressed grief over the loss of innocent lives in the region, particularly children.

Pope Francis stepped up his recent criticism of Israel's military campaign in Gaza, calling the humanitarian situation "very serious and shameful."https://t.co/ITjPw8BHM7

— The Jerusalem Post (@Jerusalem_Post) January 9, 2025

The pope declared, “We cannot accept that children are freezing to death because hospitals have been destroyed or a country’s energy network has been hit.” His remarks highlighted the severe impact on the region’s healthcare and infrastructure, which has worsened the civilian crisis.

AL-JAZEERA: Pope Francis has stepped up his criticism of Israel's war on Gaza, describing the humanitarian situation in the Palestinian enclave as "grave and deeply shameful." pic.twitter.com/3BbOug9M3X

— The Palestine Chronicle (@PalestineChron) January 9, 2025

Israeli Response and Wider Concerns

Israel’s foreign ministry responded to Pope Francis’s criticism by accusing him of “double standards,” emphasizing their efforts to minimize civilian casualties while blaming Hamas for using civilians as shields. However, the pope’s critique includes a previous suggestion of probing potential genocide in the region. An Israeli government official also voiced disapproval of his genocide remarks.

“Pope Francis on Thursday stepped up his recent criticisms of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, calling the humanitarian situation in the Palestinian enclave “very serious and shameful”.” – Pope Francis.

Francis addressed issues beyond Gaza, condemning antisemitism and expressing concern about rising antisemitic groups globally. He stressed the need for peace in other regions, including Ukraine, emphasizing it as a priority through his Christmas message about the need to resolve conflicts peacefully.

Global Call for Action

During his speech, commonly regarded as the Vatican’s “State of the World” address, Pope Francis urged the international community to address climate change actively and called attention to the dangers of misinformation spread via social media. His appeal aimed at fostering global cooperation and peaceful resolutions to ongoing conflicts, hoping to end the highly destructive Ukraine-Russia war by 2025.

“My wish for the year 2025 is that the entire international community will work above all to end the conflict that, for almost three years now, has caused so much bloodshed.” – Pope Francis.

In his Christmas remarks, he criticized the bombardments in Gaza, calling them “cruelty, not war.” Representatives from 184 countries attended his speeches. His statements reflect a recurring demand for human rights, peace, and environmental sustainability as core concerns needing urgent global action.