His Holiness Pope Leo XIV Welcomes Aziz Abu Sarah and Maoz Inon at the Vatican– calling on the international community to prioritise peacebuilding. 

On Friday, May 30, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV received Israeli and Palestinian peace entrepreneurs Maoz Inon and Aziz Abu Sarah for an official audience at the Vatican as part of the Jubilee celebrations. This marks the first time representatives from the Israeli-Palestinian peace movement have been formally welcomed by the Pope – a moment of profound historical significance, gratitude, and responsibility.

Maoz Inon and Aziz Abu Sarah lament on the importance of this visit, stating, “We are humbled to represent a growing movement of Israelis and Palestinians who believe peace is not only possible – it is inevitable.”

“We are deeply grateful for the moral leadership of His Holiness and for his support of an immediate end to the war, a deal to release hostages and prisoners and the building of a just and lasting peace rooted in reconciliation, equality, and security for both peoples.”

In recognition of the work of the two peace entrepreneurs, Pope Leo XIV stated during his speech: “How can we forget the courageous embrace between Maoz Inon, an Israeli whose parents were killed by Hamas, and Aziz Abu Sarah, a Palestinian whose brother was killed by the Israeli army. They are now friends and work with one another. That gesture remains as a testimony and sign of hope. We thank them for being here today.”

Underscoring the vital role of civil society in peacebuilding—an emphasis his predecessor Pope Francis had already made ahead of last year’s G7 summit—the Pope also said: “Peace takes shape from the ground up, beginning with places, communities and local institutions, and by listening to what they have to tell us. In this way, we come to realize that peace is possible when disagreements and the conflicts they entail are not set aside, but acknowledged, understood and surmounted. That is why your work (…) is especially valuable. (…) If you want peace, prepare institutions of peace. Increasingly we realize that this cannot simply involve political institutions, whether national or international, but requires all institutions – educational, economic and social.”

This meeting reinforces the policy shift that Pope Francis, together with more than 50 UK and European Parliamentarians, over 350 NGOs, and peacebuilders Maoz and Aziz, helped to advance last year. They offer renewed momentum for this agenda to be reaffirmed and expanded at the upcoming G7 Leaders Summit, ensuring that the Vatican’s legacy of support for grassroots peacebuilding continues to grow in both reach and impact.

ALLMEP deeply appreciates the global solidarity with Israeli and Palestinian peacebuilders who are tirelessly elevating the voices of those on the ground striving for a more just and peaceful future for all.