Israeli President Isaac Herzog told Pope Leo XIV at an audience in the Vatican Thursday that Israel guaranteed the safety of Christians in the Holy Land.
"Israel is doing everything possible to bring home the hostages held in brutal captivity by Hamas," he said on X after the audience.
"Israel longs for a day when the peoples of the Middle East, the Children of Abraham, will live together in peace, cooperation, and hope.
"All leaders of faith and good will must be united in calling for the immediate release of the hostages as a first and fundamental step toward a better future for the entire region.
"Israel," he added, "is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of the Christian communities in the Holy Land."
