On the eve of the International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Pope Francis also noted that many Christians were killed in Nazi concentration camps.

Pope Francis has called Gaza’s church every evening, in solidarity with the 600 Palestinians seeking refuge there.

"Pope Francis went on to say that his heart is close to all the people who inhabit the Holy Land, which includes Israelis and Palestinians."

While some Jewish leaders condemned the pope’s recent remarks on Israel, others believe that Catholic-Jewish relations can survive the current tension.

Pope Francis expressed the hope that the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that came into effect on Sunday, Jan. 19, “would be respected immediately by all the parties [involved]” and would lead to “the release of all the hostages” and the rapid provision of urgently needed humanitarian aid to the population of Gaza.

Pope Francis called for the respect of the ceasefire declared in the Gaza Strip and for the rapid delivery of humanitarian aid to the population.

He thanked both Trump and Biden, as well as Qatar and Egypt. The Pope's first words of gratitude were directed towards the key mediators who, in recent weeks, have worked tirelessly to broker

Pope Francis has said he wants to give women greater leadership roles in the Roman Catholic Church. If he really wants to make good on that vow, writes Rich Barlow, he should reconsider Catholicism’s insistence on an all-male priesthood.

Rome's chief Jewish rabbi on Thursday sharply criticised Pope Francis over the pontiff's recent ramping up of criticism against Israel's military campaign in Gaza, in an unusually forceful speech during an annual Catholic-Jewish dialogue event.

"Thanks to all the parties involved in this important outcome. I hope it'll be immediately respected by the parties and all the hostages will finally be able to go home to hug their loved ones again"

The 266th head of the Catholic Church called for peace in the Middle East—a routine request from his predecessors. But Pope Francis went one step further, ensuring his message was crystal clear:

Pope Francis thanked the negotiators of the peace deal between Israel and Hamas in an interview on Sunday, saying, “Peace takes courage.”