Madonna has called on the pope to visit Gaza and “bring your light to the children before it’s too late.”
The superstar made the appeal on social media on Monday, explaining that her son Rocco’s 25th birthday inspired her to speak out.
Addressing Pope Leo XIV, she wrote: “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 among 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.”
The singer stressed that she was not taking sides in the conflict.
“I am not pointing fingers, placing blame, or taking sides. Everyone is suffering — including the mothers of the hostages,” she wrote. “I pray that they are released as well. I am merely trying to do what I can to keep these children from dying of starvation.”
The pope recently renewed his call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, urging the international community to respect humanitarian law and the obligation to protect civilians.
“I once again call for an immediate end to the barbarity of this war and for a peaceful resolution to the conflict,” he said last month.
Aid workers and doctors have warned that after months of the Israeli blockade and disruptions to supply distribution, children in Gaza with no prior health conditions are beginning to die from malnutrition.
Israel’s air and ground offensive, triggered by Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack into Israel, has displaced most of Gaza’s roughly two million Palestinians and pushed the territory towards famine.
The United Nations reported that more than 5,000 children were diagnosed with malnutrition across Gaza in May, though this figure is likely an undercount. Before the war, malnutrition was virtually unknown. Doctors say they struggle to treat the children as many medical supplies have run out.
Israel denies that a famine is occurring or that children are starving, asserting it has supplied sufficient food throughout the conflict. It accuses Hamas of causing shortages by diverting aid and attempting to control food distribution.