During his weekly general audience at St. Peter’s Square —his first since the start of his pontificate — Pope Leo XIV stated on Wednesday, "The situation in Gaza is alarming and painful."

The Pope urged authorities to allow the entry of adequate humanitarian aid into Gaza, stressing the need to "end the fighting, which is causing immense suffering to children, the elderly, and the sick."

His appeal came as the NGO Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) accused Israel on Wednesday of providing "shockingly insufficient" aid in response to Gaza’s humanitarian needs.

The organization also stated that this limited aid reflects Israel’s attempt to avoid accusations of starving Gaza’s population while, in reality, keeping them barely alive.

Previously, on May 11, Pope Leo XIV expressed deep sorrow over the events unfolding in Gaza, calling for "an immediate halt to hostilities, the provision of humanitarian aid to exhausted civilians, and the release of all hostages."