Pope Leo insists on 2 state solution to resolve Israel – Palestine conflict
London, UK, December 1, 2025
In a powerful declaration delivered during his maiden papal journey, Pope Leo XIV has publicly insisted on the two-state solution to resolve the protracted Israel-Palestine conflict, stating unequivocally that it represents the “only solution” capable of guaranteeing justice and long-term security for both peoples.
Speaking to reporters aboard the papal plane en route to Lebanon, the pontiff strongly reaffirmed the Holy See’s long-standing position while acknowledging the immediate political resistance to the concept, particularly from the current Israeli government.
This assertive push from the Vatican, coming amid continued regional turmoil, aims to use the Church’s moral authority to shift the global diplomatic conversation back toward the creation of an independent Palestinian state alongside a secure Israel.
The Pope Leo insists on the creation of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, an outcome that aligns with decades of international consensus.
His comments were delivered following discussions with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, where both the Gaza and Ukraine conflicts were central topics.
The Pope stressed the Vatican’s unique role as a friend to both sides, positioning the Holy See as a vital mediating voice dedicated to bringing the parties closer to a just resolution.
However, the statement immediately met with strong implicit opposition from Jerusalem, where Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains publicly committed to preventing the establishment of a Palestinian state, a position he views as a reward for terror groups and a threat to Israeli security.
Headline Points:
Only Solution” Declared:
Pope Leo XIV described the two-state solution as the “only solution” that can guarantee justice for both Israelis and Palestinians, adding moral weight to the diplomatic process.
Direct Israeli Opposition Acknowledged:
The pontiff publicly recognized that the current Israeli government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, “doesn’t accept this solution,” but maintained that the alternative path is unsustainable.
Turkish Mediation Role:
The Pope confirmed that he discussed the conflict with Turkish President Erdoğan, highlighting Turkey’s “important role to play” in encouraging a ceasefire and facilitating an end to the war.
Focus on Justice and Dignity:
The Vatican’s renewed push is framed around the core principles of guaranteeing the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination and ensuring Israel’s right to exist within secure borders.
Vatican as Mediator:
The Holy See is actively seeking to use its diplomatic influence and historical ties with regional leaders to serve as a neutral, mediating force that can bridge the immense political divide between the two sides.
The Vatican’s deep, historical engagement with the conflict in the Middle East gives its pronouncements significant weight, particularly within the international community and among Christian populations in the region.
The Holy See formally recognized the State of Palestine in 2015, a significant diplomatic step that solidified its insistence on the two-state framework. This latest, more pointed appeal by Pope Leo is seen by diplomatic observers as an attempt to leverage the urgency created by the ongoing crisis in Gaza and the wider regional instability to pressure global actors—including the United States and European Union—to demand a definitive political solution rather than temporary ceasefires.
The pontiff’s use of the phrase “only solution” is a deliberate escalation of language, rejecting all other proposed frameworks, such as confederation models or unilateral annexations, as lacking the necessary components for lasting peace.
During his brief news conference, Pope Leo XIV emphasised that the Holy See’s diplomacy is founded on fairness and parity.
We are also friends with Israel, and we try with both sides to be a mediating voice that can help bring them closer to a solution with justice for all,” he said.
This message of balanced friendship is crucial, as the Vatican must maintain lines of communication with Jerusalem while also advocating for Palestinian rights.
The Pope’s position reflects a consistent belief within the Catholic Church that the failure to resolve the underlying issue of statehood and occupation fuels extremism and perpetuates the cycle of violence.
The two-state solution is not merely a diplomatic preference but is viewed through a lens of theological and humanitarian justice—that two distinct peoples, with deep historical roots in the same land, must both be granted sovereignty and security.
However, the political hurdles remain immense. The position of Prime Minister Netanyahu, who has repeatedly stated his non-acceptance of a sovereign Palestinian state, creates a direct conflict with the Vatican’s core proposal.
For Netanyahu and his right-wing coalition, the fear is that a Palestinian state, particularly one encompassing Gaza and the West Bank, would inevitably become a security risk, potentially leading to further large-scale attacks on Israeli citizens.
He has asserted that Israel’s opposition to Palestinian statehood has “not changed one bit,” signaling a willingness to resist external pressure from global leaders.
The Vatican’s push for this particular resolution is also timely given the internal divisions within the international community.
While the vast majority of UN members support the two-state model, key global powers and regional states are divided on the means of achieving it and the necessary security guarantees.
By clearly stating the necessity of the two-state solution, Pope Leo is attempting to re-establish a common moral and diplomatic ground upon which future multilateral negotiations can be built.
The success of this Vatican diplomatic initiative rests not only on the weight of its moral argument but on its ability to convince reluctant parties—particularly the Israeli government—that true security can only be achieved through justice, dignity, and political independence for the Palestinian people.
The coming months will test whether the Pope’s moral insistence can translate into concrete diplomatic movement in a region defined by deeply entrenched historical grievances and ongoing conflict.
