Israeli President Isaac Herzog will travel to the Vatican on Thursday for a one-day visit at the invitation of Pope Leo XIV, Herzog’s office announced.
The President is scheduled to meet with the Pope and Vatican Prime Minister Cardinal Pietro Parolin to discuss efforts to secure the return of kidnapped Israelis, combat rising global antisemitism, and protect Christian communities in the Middle East. He will also tour the Vatican Archives and Library before returning to Israel later the same day.
Pope Leo had called for an end to the 'barbarity of war' in July as he spoke of his profound pain over an Israeli strike on the sole Catholic church in Gaza.
Three people died and several were injured, including the parish priest, in the strike on the Holy Family Church compound in Gaza City on Thursday.
Speaking after his Angelus prayer, Leo read out the names of those killed in the incident.
The Pope and Netanyahu
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Pope Leo XIV have spoken to one another in July.
The phone call came a day after an Israeli strike on Gaza's sole Catholic church killed three people and wounded several others.
During the call, the pope renewed his appeal for a ceasefire and an end to the war in Gaza, and expressed his concern over the "dramatic" humanitarian situation in the Strip, a Vatican statement said.
While regularly calling for a ceasefire, the Pope consistently calls for the return of all of the hostages at the same time.