Pope Leo reaffirms the Vatican's support for a Palestinian state: “It is the only solution”

Pope Leo said on Sunday, en route to Lebanon, that the only solution to the decades-long conflict between Israel and the Palestinians must include a Palestinian state, reaffirming the Vatican's position, according to Reuters.

“We all know that at this moment Israel does not accept this solution, but we consider it the only possible one,” Leo, the first American pope, told reporters during the flight between Turkey and Lebanon, in his first press conference on board the plane.

“We are also friends with Israel and we are trying to be a mediating voice between the two sides to help them reach a just solution for all,” the pope added, speaking in Italian.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reaffirmed his opposition to a Palestinian state after even Israel's main ally, the United States, expressed support for Palestinian independence.

Leon spoke in a brief eight-minute news conference that focused on his visit to Turkey from Thursday to Sunday, his first foreign trip since his election in May as leader of the 1.4 billion-member Catholic Church.

During his visit to Turkey, the pope warned that the future of humanity is at risk due to the unusually high number of bloody conflicts in the world and condemned violence committed in the name of religion.

Critic of the Israeli army in Gaza

Pope Leo, who usually uses cautious and diplomatic language, earlier this year stepped up his criticism of Israel's military campaign in Gaza.

Turkey is a majority Muslim country, but it is also home to the Ecumenical Patriarchate led by Patriarch Bartholomew, the spiritual leader of the world's approximately 260 million Orthodox Christians.

The Pope praised Turkey as an example of religious coexistence.

“People of different religions can live in peace,” he said. “It's an example of what I think we'd all like to see around the world.”

Leon is visiting Lebanon until Tuesday, when he will return to Rome.