It is time to stop this slaughter.” With these words, Pope Leo XIV expressed his firm condemnation of the Israeli army’s attack on the Church of the Holy Family in Gaza.

Netanyahu held a call with Pope Leo XIV, where he expressed optimism about the hostage talks, while the Pope asked to keep sacred places safe from the war. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Pope Leo XIV in a Friday phone call that Israel is in advanced stages of negotiations for the release of hostages,