Pope Leo XIV doubles down on insistence for 2-state solution to resolve Israeli-Palestinian conflict

ON BOARD THE PAPAL PLANE — Pope Leo

Leo made the comments as he flew from Istanbul to Beirut for the second and final leg of his maiden journey as pope. Although Leo answered journalists’ questions during informal meetings at his country home, the brief meeting marked his first news conference as pope and followed his predecessors’ tradition of using his travels to engage with the media. But it was limited to two questions from Turkish journalists.

The US pope was asked about his private talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan upon his arrival in Ankara and whether they discussed the wars in Gaza and Ukraine.

Leo confirmed this was the case and said Turkey had an “important role to play” in both conflicts, pointing out that Erdogan’s government had already helped facilitate low-level negotiations between Russia and Ukraine to end the war.

“Unfortunately, we still have not found a solution. But today there are new concrete proposals for peace.” He said the Holy See hopes Erdogan will continue his dialogue with Ukraine, Russia and the United States to help achieve a ceasefire and end a nearly four-year war.

Regarding Gaza, he reiterated the Holy See’s long-standing position in favor of a two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinians. The creation of a Palestinian state in East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza has long been seen internationally as the only way to resolve the conflict.

The Holy See recognized a Palestinian state in 2015, but promotion of a two-state solution received new impetus this year during the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Several other countries have officially recognized a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly.

“We know that at present Israel does not accept this solution, but we consider it the only one that can offer a solution to the conflict in which they live,” he said. “We are also friends with Israel and we try with both sides to be a mediating voice that can help them get closer to a solution that guarantees justice for all. »

Leo had avoided any direct mention of the conflict in Gaza during his stay in Türkiye. And in his brief remarks to journalists summarizing his trip so far, he omitted any reference to his visit to Istanbul’s Blue Mosque, his most visible engagement with Turkey’s Muslim majority.

Leo instead focused on the main reason for coming to the region: to commemorate the 1,700th anniversary of a major gathering of bishops from across the Roman Empire in 325 AD, in what is now Iznik, Turkey. There, the bishops agreed on a common creed, or profession of faith.

The Nicene Creed is still recited today by millions of Christians around the world and, despite schisms and other divisions, constitutes a rare point of agreement between Catholic, Orthodox and most Protestant believers.

Leo participated in a commemoration of the Council of Nicaea in Iznik and spent his time in Istanbul meeting with various Orthodox patriarchs. At a joint meeting on Saturday, he proposed that they come together in a major way in 2033 in Jerusalem, to commemorate the 2,000th anniversary of the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ, as a new visible sign of their unity.

“It’s obviously an event that all Christians want to celebrate,” he said. “We have years to prepare,” he added, while specifying that the various patriarchs welcomed the proposal.

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