Top Vatican Cardinal Accuses Israel of Committing “Genocide” in Gaza

A senior Vatican cardinal has sharply condemned what he described as Israel’s “ongoing genocide” in Gaza — one of the strongest rebukes of Israel’s war against Hamas ever voiced by the Catholic Church.

In an interview published Monday to mark the second anniversary of Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attacks on Israeli communities, Cardinal Pietro Parolin called those attacks “inhuman and unforgivable,” while urging Hamas to release all remaining hostages.

Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State and one of Pope Leo’s top envoys, said:

“Those under attack have the right to defend themselves. But even in legitimate defense, the principle of proportionality must be respected.”

He added:

“The war waged by the Israeli army to eliminate Hamas militants ignores the fact that it is targeting a largely defenseless population already on the brink — in a territory where buildings and homes have been reduced to rubble.”

Speaking to Vatican media, Parolin said,

“It is clear that the international community is, unfortunately, powerless, and the countries truly capable of exerting influence have so far failed to act to stop this ongoing genocide.”

Israeli Response

The Israeli Embassy to the Holy See described Parolin’s remarks as “certainly well-intentioned,” but regretted that they were “focused on criticizing Israel while overlooking Hamas’s continued refusal to release hostages or end the violence.”

In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, the embassy said using the term “genocide” to describe both Hamas’s attacks and Israel’s response was “problematic,” insisting that “there can be no moral equivalence between the two sides.”

When asked about Israel’s reaction, Pope Leo stood by Parolin.

“I do not wish to comment further. The Cardinal has expressed very clearly what the Holy See’s position is,” he told reporters at Castel Gandolfo, the papal residence outside Rome.

Vatican’s Evolving Tone

The Vatican, which maintains embassies in capitals around the world, typically uses restrained language on conflicts and prefers quiet diplomacy over public statements.

However, Pope Leo, who was elected in May following Pope Francis’s passing, has taken an increasingly outspoken stance against Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.

He has repeatedly urged Israel to expand humanitarian access to the enclave and raised the issue directly with Israeli President Isaac Herzog during a meeting in September.

Parolin added:

“It is not enough to say that what is happening is unacceptable and then allow it to continue. We must seriously question the legitimacy of continuing to supply weapons being used against civilians.”

He did not name any specific country.

According to Israeli figures, the Hamas-led assault in 2023 killed about 1,200 people and took 251 hostages, prompting Israel’s military offensive in Gaza.

Gaza health officials say more than 67,000 people, the majority of them civilians, have since been killed in Israel’s campaign.