VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV met Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday for the first time, with both leaders stressing the urgent need to expand humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza and to revive a two-state solution as the path to ending the conflict.
The private audience at the Apostolic Palace lasted about an hour and was described by the Holy See as “cordial.” It comes nearly a month after a U.S.-brokered ceasefire took effect in the Gaza Strip. The pair had previously spoken by phone in July regarding escalating violence in Gaza and the West Bank.
“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 Vatican said
