Pope Leo XIV, en route to Lebanon from his visit in Turkey, told reporters aboard the papal plane that the Vatican views a Palestinian state as the “only solution.”

Why It Matters

The comments are in line with The Holy See’s stance, having formally recognized the State of Palestine in June 2015. The pope has called for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, and Pope Francis, before his death, also urged an end to the fighting, describing Gaza as facing a “grave humanitarian crisis.” The popemobile used by Francis has been transformed into a mobile medical clinic for children in Gaza.

The pope is the spiritual leader of the world’s roughly 1.4 billion Catholics. Many world leaders back a two-state solution, which would create an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel, a proposal t

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