Madonna has urged Pope Leo to visit Gaza and bring his "light" to the children before it is "too late".
In a plea shared on her social media, the Like a Prayer singer said the pontiff is "the only one of us who cannot be denied entry".
The star's plea follows a recent strike that killed a prominent Al Jazeera correspondent, Anas al-Sharif, and four of his colleagues, who were sheltering outside al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City on Sunday night.
Their deaths have been condemned by the United Nations, the EU, and media rights groups.
In her post, Madonna said: "Most Holy Father, please go to Gaza and bring your light to the children before it's too late. As a mother, I cannot bear to watch their suffering.
"The children of the world belong to everyone.
"You are the only one of us who cannot be denied entry.
"We need the humanitarian gates to be fully opened to save these innocent children.
"There is no more time. Please say you will go. Love, Madonna."
Politics Cannot affect Change.
— Madonna (@Madonna) August 11, 2025
Only consciousness Can. Therefore I am Reaching out to a Man of God.
Today is my Son Rocco's birthday.
I feel the best gift I can give to him as a Mother - is to ask everyone to do what they can to help save the innocent children caught in the… pic.twitter.com/y2B3BsXAMt
In the caption of her post, Madonna said it was her son Rocco's birthday and that "the best gift I can give to him as a Mother - is to ask everyone to do what they can to help save the innocent children caught in the crossfire in Gaza."
She added: "I am not pointing fingers, placing blame or taking sides. Everyone is suffering. Including the mothers of the hostages. I pray that they are released as well."
The singer also asked for donations to three different organisations.
In July, Pope Leo renewed his call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, asking the international community to respect international laws and the obligation to protect civilians.
"I appeal to the international community to observe humanitarian law and respect the obligation to protect civilians as well as the prohibition of collective punishment, the indiscriminate use of force, and the forced displacement of populations," he said.
Source: Press Association, AFP
