Pope Leo Advocates Palestinian State as "Only Solution" to Israel-Palestinian Conflict During First International Visit

Pope Leo has intensified his criticism of Israel's military operations in Gaza earlier this year.

During a Sunday in-flight press conference from Turkey to Lebanon, Pope Leo declared that the establishment of a Palestinian state remains the only viable solution to the longstanding Israeli-Palestinian conflict, reaffirming the Vatican's official position.

"We all recognize that Israel currently does not accept this solution, yet we view it as the only path forward," stated Leo, the first American pope, while speaking in Italian to journalists during his inaugural in-flight media engagement.

"We maintain friendship with Israel and seek to serve as a mediating voice between both parties to help them reach a solution that ensures justice for everyone," the pontiff added.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has consistently voiced opposition to Palestinian statehood, even as the United States, Israel's strongest ally, has expressed support for Palestinian independence.

The pope's brief eight-minute press conference primarily focused on his four-day visit to Turkey, which marked his first international trip since his election in May as the leader of the 1.4 billion-member Catholic Church.

Leo revealed that his discussions with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan encompassed both the Israel-Palestinian conflict and the Ukraine-Russia war. He emphasized Turkey's significant potential role in helping to resolve both ongoing conflicts.

During his Turkish visit, Pope Leo cautioned that humanity's future faces serious threats due to the unusual proliferation of violent conflicts worldwide, and he condemned any violence perpetrated in religion's name.

Despite typically employing careful and diplomatic language, Leo has increasingly voiced criticism of Israel's military campaign in Gaza earlier this year.

While Turkey is predominantly Muslim, it also hosts Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the spiritual leader of approximately 260 million Orthodox Christians globally.

The pope praised Turkey as an exemplary model of religious coexistence, stating, "People of different faiths are able to live peacefully together. This represents the kind of environment we should strive for throughout the world."

Pope Leo's visit to Lebanon continues until Tuesday, after which he will return to Rome.