In a brief but powerful letter, Madonna asked Pope Leo XIV to visit the Gaza Strip “before it’s too late.” In a Monday Instagram post, the pop icon called on the religious leader as attacks from Israel continue amid its war with Hamas.
“Most Holy Father, please go to Gaza and bring your light to the children before it’s too late. AS a mother, I cannot bear to watch their suffering. The children of the world belong to everyone,” Madonna wrote. “You are the only one of us who cannot be denied entry.”
She added: “We need the humanitarian gates to be fully opened to save these innocent children. There is no more time. Please say you will go.”
In her caption of the brief note, Madonna shared that it was her son Rocco’s birthday and said that it would be the “Best gift” to ask her followers to do what they can to “help save the innocent children caught in the crossfire in Gaza.”
“I am not pointing fingers, placing blame or taking sides. Everyone is suffering. Including the mothers of the hostages. I pray that they are released as well,” she wrote. “I am merely trying to do what I can to keep these children from dying of starvation.”
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In addition to the pope, the star tagged several organizations offering support to the families of Gaza who are struggling during the escalating humanitarian crisis.
Back in May, Pope Leo used his first-ever General Audience in St. Peter’s Basilica to call on Israel to release aid into Gaza. “I renew my fervent appeal to allow for the entry of fair humanitarian help and to bring to an end the hostilities, the devastating price of which is paid by children, the elderly and the sick,” Leo said, calling conditions in Gaza “increasingly worrying and painful.”
Leo’s plea for aid to Gaza continues the work of his predecessor Pope Francis, who was vocal in his support for the Palestinian people, and continued to call for a cease-fire in Gaza up to the day before he died.
From Rolling Stone US
