Pope Leo meets with Palestinian president to discuss ‘urgent need’ for peace

Pope Leo XIV has met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to discuss the “urgent need” to end the conflict in the Holy Land. On Thursday morning, Leo received Abbas, president of the State of Palestine, in a private audience at the Vatican. The conversation marked the first in-person meeting between the two leaders, who had previously spoken over the phone. “During the cordial talks, it was recognized that there is an urgent need to provide assistance to the civilian population in Gaza and to end the conflict by pursuing a two-State solution,” the Holy See said in a statement.