New York: American singer, songwriter, record producer and actress, Madonna, has urged Pope Leo to visit Gaza in a humanitarian mission to help starving Palestinian children, saying “there is no more time”.
The "Queen of Pop" who was raised a Roman Catholic, pleaded with the new pontiff to visit the enclave in an Instagram post Monday and said, “Most Holy Father. Please go to Gaza and bring your light to the children before it’s too late. 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.”
Madonna said she was calling on Leo to visit Gaza because “politics cannot affect change,” but “consciousness can”, reports CNN.
In the post, published on her son Rocco’s birthday, Madonna said the best gift she could give to him is “to ask everyone to do what they can to help save the innocent children caught in the crossfire in Gaza.”
Madonna’s comments come as a growing number of artists, including Massive Attack, Brian Eno and most recently U2, have highlighted the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
During a performance in late 2023, Madonna also criticized the Hamas-led October 7 attacks on Israel, and Israel’s military response.
She called the war “heartbreaking.”
Australia, Canada and France have announced plans to recognize a Palestinian state, while the United Kingdom said last month that it will recognize a Palestinian state in September on a condition that if Israel does not meet criteria that includes agreeing to a ceasefire in Gaza.