Pop singer Madonna has urged Pope Leo to visit Gaza on a humanitarian mission to help starving Palestinian children, saying that there is no more time. The American superstar, who was raised as a Roman Catholic, pleaded with a new pontiff to visit the enclave in an Instagram post Monday.
“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. You are the only one of us who cannot be denied entry,” said the singer in her post.
She said that she is calling on Leo to visit Gaza because she believes politics cannot effect change; however, the consciousness can. In a post published on her son, Rocco’s, birthday, Madonna said that the best gift she could give to him is to ask everyone to do what they can to help save the innocent children caught in the crossfire in Gaza. Since his papacy began in May, the Pope has been robust in his denunciation of Israel’s war crimes in Gaza. The Pope has been consistently raising his concerns regarding the welfare and well-being of the Palestinian civilians facing indiscriminate and heinous Israeli bombardment.
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“I am following with great concern the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, where the civilian population is suffering from severe hunger and remains exposed to violence and death,” he said in July, calling for a ceasefire.
According to UNICEF, more than 18,000 children have been killed in Gaza since the war began in 2023. An average of 28 children have been killed a day there, the agency reports said last week. Moreover, Israel’s blockade on the supply of aid to Gaza has resulted in man-made mass starvation and famine, says the World Health Organization, WHO.
Madonna said that she is “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 said.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom responded to Madonna’s post on Monday, thanking her for her compassion, solidarity, and commitment to caring for everyone caught up in the Gaza crisis, especially the children.
“This is greatly needed. Humanity and peace must prevail,” he said.