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

Dec 01, 2025 11:40 am CST

During his first overseas trip as leader of the Catholic Church, Pope Leo reaffirmed the Vatican's position that a Palestinian state is the only viable solution to the decades-long Israel-Palestinian conflict. Speaking during an in-flight press conference from Turkey to Lebanon, the first American pope emphasized the need for justice while acknowledging Israel's current opposition to this approach. Pope Leo also praised Turkey as a model for religious coexistence during his diplomatic mission addressing multiple global conflicts.