Pope Francis meets with Mahmoud Abbas

Pope Francis and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met at the Vatican on Thursday, marking their first in-person meeting in three years, Reuters reported.

The encounter highlighted the Pope's growing concern over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and his increasingly vocal stance on the ongoing Israeli Occupation military campaign.

The Vatican confirmed that the two leaders held private talks lasting about 30 minutes, followed by Abbas' meeting with the Holy See's top diplomatic officials. Discussions centered on the dire humanitarian conditions in Gaza, with calls for a ceasefire and the swift release of captives.

Abbas expressed gratitude to the Pope for his consistent support for a just resolution to the aggression, reaffirming his commitment to a two-state solution.

"I thanked His Holiness for his positions in support of achieving a just peace in Palestine," Abbas noted in a statement following the meeting.

Abbas’ visit to Rome includes planned meetings with Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Meanwhile, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati is also scheduled to meet with the Pope during his visit to Italy on Friday.

Pope Francis has traditionally maintained a neutral stance in global conflicts, but recent comments have underscored his growing criticism of "Israel's" actions in Gaza.

In November, the Pope suggested that the international community should consider whether the situation in Gaza constitutes genocide.