Madonna urges Pope to visit Gaza "before it's too late"

Madonna during the Met Gala, in New York City, New York, U.S., May 5, 2025.
Reuters

Pop singer Madonna appealed on Instagram for Pope Leo XIV to visit Gaza and “bring light to the children before it’s too late,” calling him “the only one of us who cannot be denied entry” and urging action to prevent child starvation.

Posting on social media for her son Rocco’s 25th birthday, Madonna stated she wasn't assigning blame or taking sides, but felt compelled “as a mother” to act to protect innocent children and those suffering, including mothers of hostages. UNICEF estimates that over 18,000 children have been killed in Gaza in the past 22 months, and about 28 children per day are dying, roughly the size of a full classroom. Israel rejects claims of a famine, saying it has distributed sufficient aid and accusing Hamas of misusing it. Experts and international bodies have flagged Israel’s military actions in Gaza as potentially crossing into genocide; the International Court of Justice has called such claims plausible, while Israel denies they constitute war crimes.

Madonna is the latest high-profile figure to speak on the Gaza crisis. Earlier, members of U2, Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr., released statements condemning both Hamas’s 7 October attack and the Israeli government's response. Bono specifically called out Netanyahu’s actions as “immoral,” The Edge warned of potential ethnic cleansing, and the band pledged a donation to Medical Aid for Palestinians.

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