ISLAMABAD: Global pop icon Madonna has called on Pope Leo to visit Gaza on a humanitarian mission, imploring the pontiff to shine a light on the suffering of Palestinian children caught in what she described as a “man-made famine and a humanitarian catastrophe.”
The American singer, raised in the Roman Catholic tradition, made the plea in an Instagram post on her son Rocco’s birthday. Rather than a celebration, Madonna used the occasion to amplify her call for compassion.
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“Most Holy Father. Please go to Gaza and bring your light to the children before it’s too late,” she wrote.
“As a mother, I cannot bear to watch their suffering. The children of the world belong to everyone. You are the only one of us who cannot be denied entry.”
Her message, directed personally at Pope Leo, comes amid a spiralling humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where over 18,000 children have been killed since the war erupted in October 2023, according to UNICEF.
An Israeli blockade on aid has left the enclave on the brink of collapse, with the World Health Organization (WHO) calling it “man-made mass starvation.”
Madonna emphasized that her call was not political, but humanitarian. “I’m not pointing fingers, placing blame, or taking sides,” she added. “Everyone is suffering—including the mothers of the hostages. I pray that they are released as well.”
Since ascending to the papacy in May, Pope Leo has been one of the most outspoken global leaders condemning the war in Gaza, describing the siege as a “dire humanitarian situation” and urging a ceasefire.
Whether Israel would grant the pope access to Gaza remains uncertain, but Madonna insists he is the only figure with “unquestioned moral access.”
“We need the humanitarian gates to be fully opened to save these innocent children. There is no more time. Please say you will go.”
Global response grows
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus responded to Madonna’s call, thanking her for her compassion and solidarity: “Humanity and peace must prevail.”
Ramesh Rajasingham, head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), echoed the urgency, declaring at the UN Security Council:
“This is no longer a looming hunger crisis – this is starvation, pure and simple.”
Over 222 people, including 101 children, have reportedly died from malnutrition, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
Rare voice among icons
Madonna joins a growing chorus of global artists using their platforms to spotlight Gaza’s agony. Bands like U2, Massive Attack, and musician Brian Eno have all condemned the war.
In late 2023, Madonna had already spoken out against both the Hamas-led October 7 attacks and Israel’s military response, calling the war “heartbreaking.”
