THE VACTICAN, November 6, 2025 (WAFA) – President Mahmoud Abbas met today with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican
The President thanked the Pope for his supportive stances on achieving a just peace in Palestine and his repeated calls to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people.
President Abbas affirmed that Pope Leo XIV's statements are a continuation of the Vatican's positions and policies supporting the establishment of a just peace in accordance with international law and legitimacy.
He emphasized the deep historical ties between the State of Palestine and the Holy See, and the ongoing efforts to strengthen these relations since the Vatican's recognition of the State of Palestine and the canonization of two Palestinian saints in 2014, as well as the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the two sides in 2017.
The President reiterated the commitment to joint work with the Vatican to strengthen the Christian presence in Palestine, which he described as an authentic and deeply rooted presence among the Palestinian people for thousands of years.
President Abbas briefed His Holiness Pope Leo XIV on the latest developments in Palestine, particularly the dire humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli escalation in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, the difficult conditions in Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus Christ, the ongoing crimes of colonists' terrorism and colonial expansion, and the violation of the sanctity of Christian and Muslim holy sites, especially in occupied East Jerusalem.
The President stressed the importance of preserving the historical and legal status of the Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, the necessity of guaranteeing freedom of worship and freedom of access to these sites, and the need to protect the Holy City in the face of unilateral policies that undermine its identity and cultural character. This comes amidst the ongoing violations by the occupation against Islamic and Christian holy sites in the West Bank, including Jerusalem, as well as the destruction of places of worship in the Gaza Strip.
President Abbas emphasized that the priority now is to solidify the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, deliver aid, release hostages and prisoners, ensure an Israeli withdrawal, proceed with reconstruction, prevent displacement and annexation, enable the State of Palestine to assume its full responsibilities in the Strip, and halt the undermining of Palestinian state institutions.
The President is accompanied by PLO Executive Committee member Ziad Abu Amr, PLO Executive Committee member and Head of the Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs Ramzi Khoury, Presidential Advisor for Diplomatic Affairs Majdi Al-Khalidi, Ambassador of the State of Palestine to the Holy See Issa Kassissieh, and Ambassador of the State of Palestine to Italy Mona Abu Amara.
K.T
