Madonna begs Pope Leo to visit Gaza 'before it’s too late'

Madonna has called on Pope Leo XIV to visit Gaza in order to "bring your light to the children before it's too late".

The US pop star, considered one of the most successful female solo acts of all time and who was born and raised as a Catholic, shared her plea on Instagram.

"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."

She added: "You are the only one of 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."

Her comments come after an Italian Catholic priest who has been harshly critical of Israel’s war in Gaza was denied entry to Israel and placed on a flight from Tel Aviv to Greece, reports The Times of Israel.

Father Nandino Capovilla, 63, a priest in Marghera, near Venice, landed at Ben Gurion Airport on 11 August to take part in a “Pilgrimage of Justice” organised by the Catholic peace movement Pax Christi.

Capovilla was reportedly stopped at border control and eventually given a form to sign, which stated that he could not enter Israel for reasons related to security or public order.

Israel has faced mounting pressure over the humanitarian situation in Gaza, with experts last month warning that "the worst-case scenario of famine" was playing out in the conflict zone, the BBC reports.

It notes that Madonna's plea comes as the UK, EU, Australia, Canada and Japan issued a statement saying "famine is unfolding in front of our eyes", while the nations urged action to "reverse starvation".

Last week, the BBC notes, the UN's humanitarian agency said the amount of aid entering Gaza continued to be "far below the minimum required". The agency said it continued to experience impediments and delays as it tries to collect aid from Israeli-controlled border zones.

Israel has continued to deny that starvation is occurring in Gaza and has accused UN agencies of not collecting aid at the border crossing points and delivering it.

In July, Pope Leo said that he is following the humanitarian crisis in Gaza with “great concern” while also renewing his “heartfelt appeal for a ceasefire”.

The Pope described how the civilian population in Gaza is being “crushed by hunger and continues to be exposed to violence and death”.

In a subsequent comment to her original Instagram post calling on the Pope, Madonna said: "Politics Cannot affect Change. Only consciousness can. Therefore I am Reaching out to a Man of God."

She went on to say: "I am not pointing fingers, placing blame or taking sides. Everyone is suffering. Including the mothers of the hostages. I pray that they are released as well."

Photo: Madonna attends the 2025 Met Gala at Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, US, 5 May 2025. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images.)

‍

‍