By Kej Andres National Chairman Student Christian Movement of the Philippines
We echo the statement of singer Madonna for Pope Leo XIV, head of the Roman Catholic Church, to visit Gaza. The pop icon posted on Instagram last Monday, Aug. 11, 2025, as a plea to help stop the massive starvation and killings of children and other citizens in Gaza.
Like a prayer, we also plea to the Holy Father to visit Gaza and extend his grace, support, and solidarity for the suffering Palestinians who have experienced genocide and apartheid even before 1948. No one, even Christians and their churches in Gaza, has been spared from bombings, shootings, and systematic starvations by Israel. We need more church leaders to speak up and take action. We believe solidarity will surely come a long way. Even though Madonna has been seen by some Christians as controversial, during these dire situations, we are hopeful that we have a common humanitarian cause that can unite us against the real evils of this world.
It can be remembered that last July, Gaza’s only Roman Catholic Church was hit by an Israeli bomb where there have been casualties and injuries. Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, and the Pope have continued to criticize Israel’s war, although Israel said that it was merely an accident. Before this, other churches, hospitals and facilities and personnel from different Christian churches have also been hit by Israeli weapons and troops. The United Nations warned of having the “worst-case scenario of famine” in a context where more than 75,000 have been reportedly killed since October 2023.
We challenge the Pope to denounce the root cause of the hellish conditions in Palestine — the massive backing and motivation of the United States in this crisis to maintain and further its greed. Even though he is an American, we hope that this will not blind the Supreme Pontiff on the real causes of the sufferings of millions of Palestinians.
Israel has consistently been the number one recipient of US military aid. Since Oct. 7, 2023, the US has reportedly given $17.9 billion worth of security assistance to Israel, although many say that this is partial and does not account for continuous and immense aid even before. Many analysts have pointed out how Israel is strategic for the US in continuing its economic and military hegemony in the Middle East.
In the final analysis, while having very considerable influence, it is not up to the Pope or Madonna who will be decisive on the outcome of the humanitarian crisis in Palestine. It is up to the Palestinians and the peoples of the world in solidarity to end this horrific chapter in our history. Through our pressure on governments and other offices, our collective efforts have pushed personalities and institutions to recognize the crisis and struggles present. We, the laity, can do so much more.