Israel’s diplomatic relations with the Vatican have sharply declined after Pope Francis condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza, particularly the killing of Palestinian children.
This followed the pope’s latest public remarks denouncing what he called “cruelty” inflicted on Gaza, including the targeting of schools and hospitals.
On December 24, 2024, Pope Francis used his Christmas homily to speak out against the ongoing violence, stating, “Yesterday, children were bombed. This is cruelty, not war,” expressing his growing anger over Israel’s military actions in the region.
Israel’s Response: A Diplomatic Rebuke
In response, Israel summoned the Vatican’s ambassador, Archbishop Adolfo Tito Yllana, to express its displeasure with the pope’s statements. The Israeli Foreign Ministry criticized Pope Francis for failing to acknowledge Israel’s security concerns and the broader context of its military operations.
The Israeli government’s frustrations were further compounded by Pope Francis’s continued symbolic gestures, such as the Nativity scene at St. Peter’s Square, which displayed baby Jesus resting on a Palestinian keffiyeh—an emblem of Palestinian identity and resilience.
Symbolic Acts of Solidarity Fuel Tensions
The nativity scene, created by Bethlehem artists Johny Andonia and Faten Nastas Mitwasi, drew both praise and condemnation. While many saw it as a powerful symbol of peace and solidarity with Palestinians, Israeli supporters accused the Vatican of promoting a pro-Palestinian agenda.
Pope Francis’s call for peace and his condemnation of the global arms industry, which profits from violence, have added fuel to the fire of an already strained relationship between the Vatican and Israel.
The pope’s comments and actions appear to be part of a broader push to challenge Israel’s military operations in Gaza.
A Deepening Rift: Vatican and Israel at Odds
This diplomatic rift between Israel and the Vatican is not new. Over the past year, the relationship between the two has been increasingly fraught. In February 2024, Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin criticized Israel’s military actions in Gaza, calling them disproportionate.
Parolin’s remarks, which came after the deaths of over 30,000 people in Gaza, were met with harsh criticism from Israel’s embassy to the Holy See, which labeled them “deplorable.”
Since then, the situation has worsened, with the ongoing genocide claiming over 45,400 lives and leaving at least 107,940 people wounded, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.
Pope Francis, as the leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics, has remained a vocal critic of Israel, speaking out on behalf of Gaza’s besieged population.
International Pressure and Legal Challenges
As the death toll in Gaza continues to climb, Israel faces increasing international scrutiny. The ongoing violence has led to calls for accountability at the global level, including charges of genocide at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
In addition, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
A Call for Peace
As the situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, Pope Francis remains resolute in his calls for an end to genocide and an acknowledgment of the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the region.
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