Madonna is imploring Pope Leo to journey to the war-torn Gaza Strip, urging him to "shed your light upon the children before the window of hope closes forever." On Monday, the legendary singer posted a heartfelt message on social media, emphasizing that the Pope is "the sole individual whose entrance into Gaza cannot be denied," and stressing that "time is of the essence" amidst the territory's plight, which the World Health Organization has termed a man-made "catastrophic famine."
Drawing inspiration from her son Rocco's birthday, the Roman Catholic-raised artist explained that her plea stems from a mother's desire to give her child the ultimate gift: "to implore all to lend a hand in rescuing the innocent children trapped in Gaza's crossfire." She clarified, "I harbor no accusations, assign no fault, nor take sides. Suffering knows no bounds here. I simply seek to do my part in preventing these children from perishing from starvation."
Last week, UNICEF, the United Nations' children's agency, tweeted a stark statistic: "Over 18,000 children have lost their lives in Gaza over the past 22 months," equivalent to "an average of 28 children per day—the size of a classroom—being killed."
In response to Madonna's plea, shared on the platform X, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the World Health Organization, quoted her tweet with gratitude. "Thank you, @Madonna, for your empathy, solidarity, and dedication to those caught in the #Gaza crisis, particularly the children. Your voice is desperately needed. Humanity and peace must triumph," he wrote.
Since ascending to the papacy in May, Pope Leo has been a relentless advocate for a Gaza ceasefire, the release of hostages held there, and has criticized Israel's bombing of the territory. In July, he declared, "I am closely monitoring with profound concern the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, where civilians endure severe hunger while remaining exposed to violence and death. I renew my fervent appeal for a ceasefire, the liberation of hostages, and the unwavering respect for humanitarian law."
Madonna joins an elite group of prominent musicians advocating for the Palestinians in Gaza. On Sunday, each member of the Irish rock band U2 issued personal statements addressing the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the urgency for action.
Here is Madonna's full, poignant appeal to Pope Leo.
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.
We need the humanitarian gates to be fully opened to save these innocent children.
There is no more time. Please say you will go.
Love,
Madonna
