“Officially, the Holy See does not believe that we can make any declaration at this time about that,” said the pontiff, adding: “There’s a very technical definition about what genocide might be, but more and more people are raising the issue.”
Leo expressed solidarity with Gaza’s civilian population, saying Palestinians had “once again” been forced from their homes and were living in “unacceptable conditions” as a result of the fighting, which was initiated with Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, massacre.
Despite “some very clear statements” from U.S. President Donald Trump, there has been no clear response on finding effective ways to ease the suffering of civilians in Gaza, “and that is obviously of great concern,” Leo said.
“We can’t ignore this. Somehow, we have to continue to push, to try and make a change there,” he added.
The pope said that law required “the obligation to protect civilians, prohibitions against collective punishment, indiscriminate use of force, and the forced displacement of the population.”
In July, the pontiff called for an immediate ceasefire, expressing concern following a strike by the Israel Defense Forces against Hamas terrorists that inadvertently hit Gaza’s Holy Family Catholic Church.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog attended the inauguration at the Vatican in May and has hailed the pope’s calls for the release of Israel’s hostages as a “compassionate signal from the heart of the Catholic world.”
