Pope Francis expressed solidarity on Sunday with the families of six Israeli hostages whose bodies were found in Gaza earlier this month, highlighting his recent meeting with the mother of one of the victims.
These six individuals were among the 251 hostages taken during Hamas’s surprise attack on southern Israel on October 7, which ignited the ongoing conflict. Of those taken, 97 hostages remain in Gaza, with 33 confirmed deceased, according to the Israeli military.
Speaking at the conclusion of the Angelus prayer, Pope Francis reflected on the toll of the Middle East conflict: “So many innocent lives lost. I think of the mothers who have lost their children to war. How many young lives have been tragically cut short.”
He specifically mentioned Hersh Goldberg-Polin, an Israeli-American hostage found dead with five others earlier in September. “I met his mother, Rachel, last November. Her humanity deeply moved me. Today, I stand with her in prayer, alongside all the families of the hostages.”
Goldberg-Polin, 23, was abducted from a music festival on October 7. His last text to his mother read, “I love you,” followed by another that said, “I’m sorry.” A video from that day showed him being taken away, his left arm badly injured from the attack.
The pope called for an end to the violence, stating, “Let the conflict in Palestine and Israel cease. Let the hatred and violence come to an end. May negotiations for peace prevail, and may all hostages be released.”
Since the October 7 attack, which led to the deaths of over 1,200 people, mainly civilians, Israel’s military response has claimed over 40,700 lives in Gaza, according to local health authorities. The conflict has devastated the region, displaced millions, and triggered a massive humanitarian crisis.
