Pop Icon Madonna Urges Pope's Visit to Gaza Strip, Stressing Urgency
In the ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza, two iconic figures, Madonna and Bono, have joined the chorus of voices calling for action.
Madonna, the renowned singer, has made a public appeal to Pope Leo XIV (the current Pope Francis's assumed regnal name in 2025) to visit Gaza on a humanitarian mission. She implored the Pope via social media on August 11–13, 2025, urging him to "bring your light to the children before it's too late" and to open the humanitarian gates to save innocent lives amid ongoing starvation and crisis in Gaza.
This call is tied directly to the severe humanitarian crisis caused by an almost total blockade of Gaza, which has led to hundreds of deaths due to starvation and malnutrition, including many children, as well as massive civilian casualties since the conflict reignited in late 2023. Madonna, speaking as a mother, emphasized her emotional anguish witnessing this suffering and refrained from taking political sides, focusing instead on saving children and alleviating suffering.
Bono, a member of the band U2, has also spoken out about the situation in Gaza. He recalled images of starving children in the Gaza Strip, which reminded him of a work trip to a feeding station in Ethiopia he made with his wife Ali 40 years ago. Bono argued that the conflict in the Middle East has reached an "unknown territory" and that the actions of Israel cannot be justified anymore.
U2 has shown their support for the people of Gaza by committing to contributing to Medical Aid For Palestinians. In a statement on their official website and social media, they expressed their opposition to the blockade of humanitarian aid and plans for a military takeover of the city of Gaza. The Edge, a member of U2, addressed moral questions about the war to Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister.
Meanwhile, the Israeli Security Cabinet has approved a military plan proposed by Prime Minister Netanyahu to occupy Gaza City. The plan includes occupying Gaza City, but the fate of the rest of the enclave remains unclear. Netanyahu intends to occupy the entire Gaza Strip, but does not plan to keep it or govern it, instead aiming to maintain a "security perimeter" and hand it over to "Arab forces that will govern it" without threatening Israel and without Hamas.
The Israeli government guarantees that the cabinet adopted principles to end the war, including disarming Hamas, returning all hostages, demilitarizing the Gaza Strip, establishing an alternative civil administration for the enclave, and maintaining Israeli control of security in the Gaza Strip. However, critics argue that preserving civilian life is a choice in this war, and the indiscriminate destruction of homes and hospitals in Gaza, resulting in a famine, is a current reality.
As of the latest available information in mid-August 2025, the Pope has reiterated calls for a ceasefire and respect for humanitarian laws, but there has been no confirmed public response from him regarding Madonna’s specific invitation or an announced plan to travel to Gaza himself. Madonna’s appeal adds to wider calls for the Pope and other global leaders to intervene more directly in the crisis.
Madonna, in her most recent post, urged the Pope to visit Gaza "before it's too late," writing that she cannot bear to see the suffering of children in Gaza, especially on her son's birthday. She stated that Pope Leo XIV is "the only one whose entry cannot be denied" and it is necessary to open humanitarian doors to save the "innocent children" in Gaza.
Bono concluded that "Hamas is not the Palestinian people," emphasizing the need for a humanitarian approach to the crisis. As the situation in Gaza continues to unfold, the voices of Madonna, Bono, and other global figures serve as a reminder of the urgent need for action to alleviate the suffering of the people in Gaza.
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