Pope Leo, the highest religious leader of Catholic Christians, has called for an immediate ceasefire. He said that the cries of children and parents killed in the Gaza attacks are reaching heaven.
He made these remarks during a meeting at St. Peter's Square on Wednesday (May 28), addressing the ongoing Israeli aggression in Gaza. He also urged for "full respect" of international law.
The Pope emphasized that the cries of parents holding the bodies of their dead children in Gaza are gradually reaching heaven.
He added, "My appeal to those responsible is to stop the fighting and arrange for the release of all hostages. Respect humanitarian law."
Pope Leo was elected on May 8 to succeed Pope Francis. At the meeting, he also called for an end to the war in Ukraine.
Meanwhile, more than 800 lawyers, teachers, and former judges from the UK have written to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, urging him to impose sanctions on the Israeli government and its ministers for committing ‘genocide’ in Gaza.
The letter demands strong and effective action to stop Israel’s ‘serious violations of international law.’ It states that genocide is being committed in Gaza and that there is a serious risk of it escalating.
It also highlights ongoing war crimes, crimes against humanity, and severe breaches of international humanitarian law in Gaza. The signatories, including prominent lawyers and former judges of the UK Supreme Court and other courts, have called on Prime Minister Starmer to take urgent action to prevent the extermination of the people of Gaza.
