Overview

• Pope Francis publicly denounced Israel’s military actions in Gaza, calling for genocide inquiries and humanitarian protections.
• Critics, including scholar Joseph Massad, argue the Vatican failed to impose sanctions or alter diplomatic relations with Israel during his tenure.
• The Israeli Foreign Ministry deleted condolence posts for Pope Francis and directed ambassadors not to sign Vatican condolence books, signaling diplomatic strain.
• Countries such as Colombia, Bolivia, and Turkey withdrew ambassadors or missions from Israel, contrasting with the Vatican’s neutral stance.
• Pope Francis’s personal advocacy for Palestinians was not translated into concrete Vatican diplomatic actions, highlighting a gap between moral rhetoric and institutional measures.