US pop icon Madonna has urged Pope Leo XIV to visit Gaza, saying he is “the only one of us who cannot be denied entry.”
Her call came as the UK, EU, Australia, Canada, and Japan issued a joint statement warning that “famine is unfolding in front of our eyes” and urging swift action to “reverse starvation.”
On Instagram, Madonna wrote: “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.”
She added: “We need the humanitarian gates to be fully opened to save these innocent children.”
Pope’s Response and Past Appeals
In July, Pope Leo XIV renewed his call for a Gaza ceasefire after three people sheltering in a Catholic church in Gaza City were killed in an Israeli strike.
He appealed to the global community: “Observe humanitarian law, protect civilians, end collective punishment, stop indiscriminate use of force, and avoid forced displacement of populations.”
Israel denies there is famine in Gaza, blaming UN agencies for failing to collect aid from its borders. The UN’s humanitarian office says the amount of aid entering remains “far below the minimum required.”
Celebrities Join Call for Peace
Madonna, who recently released her remix album Veronica Electronica, has spoken about Gaza during concerts.
At London’s O2 in 2023, she told fans: “It breaks my heart to see children, teenagers, and elderly people suffering… But even though our hearts are broken, our spirits cannot be broken.”
She linked her latest plea to her son Rocco’s birthday, calling it “the best gift I can give him as a mother – to ask everyone to do what they can to save the innocent children caught in the crossfire.” She also asked for donations to three humanitarian organisations.
Irish rock band U2 also took a stand. Bono said: “Our band stands in solidarity with the people of Palestine who seek peace and coexistence with Israel and their legitimate demand for statehood. We also plead for the release of all remaining hostages.”
The war began after Hamas killed over 1,200 people and took 251 hostages in its 7 October 2023 attack on Israel. According to Gaza’s health ministry, at least 61,599 Palestinians have since been killed. The UN considers the ministry’s toll credible.
On Tuesday, Gaza’s health ministry reported five more malnutrition deaths, raising the total to 227, including 103 children.
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