Pope Leo XIV Meets Israeli, Jewish Leaders, Urges Gaza Hostage Release

Pope Leo XIV, the first U.S.-born pontiff, was inaugurated with a message of hope and renewal for the Catholic Church, emphasizing traditional Church teachings on family and life, while seeking to heal divisions within the Church and the world. His election has sparked optimism for improved Jewish-Catholic relations, highlighted by Israeli President Isaac Herzog's attendance at the inauguration and their discussion about the immediate release of Gaza hostages and renewed interfaith dialogue. In Gaza, local clergy expressed a strong spiritual bond with Pope Leo XIV and Pope Francis, appreciating their calls for peace and humanitarian aid amid severe famine and conflict. The new pope's background as a missionary in Peru, serving poor and isolated communities, underscores his commitment to service, with some viewing his choice of the name Leo as symbolically significant in light of Church prophecies. Across these developments, Pope Leo XIV's leadership is seen as a strategic, hopeful new beginning with a firm foundation in tradition, aiming to address both internal Church challenges and critical global issues. These events reflect a broader desire for peace, solidarity, and renewed dialogue among religious communities during a turbulent time.