Madonna Calls on Pope to Visit Gaza 'Before It's Too Late'

Madonna has urged Pope Leo XIV to travel to Gaza and bring hope and aid to children facing starvation.

The American pop icon posted on Instagram that the Pope is "the only one of us who cannot be denied entry" into Gaza.

Her plea follows a statement from the UK, EU, Australia, Canada and Japan warning that famine is unfolding in Gaza and calling for urgent action to reverse starvation.

'Please say you will go'

“Most Holy Father, please go to Gaza and bring your light to the children before it's too late,” Madonna wrote. “As a mother, I cannot bear to watch their suffering. The children of the world belong to everyone. We need all humanitarian crossings fully opened to save these innocent children.”

She added: “There is no more time. Please say you will go. Love, Madonna.”

In July, Pope Leo XIV renewed his call for a ceasefire after an Israeli strike killed three people sheltering in a Catholic church in Gaza City. He appealed to the international community to uphold humanitarian law, protect civilians and prohibit collective punishment.

Madonna—whose recent album “Veronica Electronica” was released last month—has repeatedly spoken about Gaza’s crisis during live performances, including at London’s O2 arena in 2023. She told fans: “It breaks my heart to see children suffering... But even though our hearts are broken, our spirits cannot be broken.”

She encouraged fans to bring “light and love” through words and actions to foster peace in the Middle East and beyond.

In her Instagram post, marking her son Rocco’s birthday, she said the best gift as a mother is to urge everyone to help protect the innocent children caught in Gaza’s crossfire.

Madonna also asked followers to donate to three humanitarian organizations and emphasized she was not assigning blame: “Everyone is suffering, including the mothers of hostages. I pray they are released.”

U2's solidarity statement

Meanwhile, U2’s frontman Bono and his bandmates released a joint statement condemning both Israeli and Hamas actions. They expressed solidarity with Palestinians seeking peace and legitimate statehood, and appealed for negotiations to secure the release of remaining hostages.

Hamas’s 7 October attack on Israel killed over 1,200 people and took 251 hostages. Israel’s response has killed at least 61,599 Palestinians, according to Gaza health ministry figures considered reliable by the UN.

UN experts warn of widespread famine in Gaza. The territory’s health ministry reports 227 deaths from malnutrition, including 103 children. The UN humanitarian office says the volume of aid entering Gaza remains far below the minimum required due to delays and restrictions at Israeli-controlled crossings, which Israel denies.

Madonna calls on Pope Leo XIV to bring humanitarian relief and international attention to Gaza’s starving children, arguing that only he can enter and avert a growing famine.

This topic was reported by BBC.

Discover engaging topics and analytical content in World News as of 12-08-2025. The article titled " Madonna Calls on Pope to Visit Gaza 'Before It's Too Late' " provides new insights and practical guidance in the World News field. Each topic is meticulously analyzed to deliver actionable information to readers.

The topic " Madonna Calls on Pope to Visit Gaza 'Before It's Too Late' " helps you make smarter decisions within the World News category. All topics on our website are unique and offer valuable content for our audience.