Pope Leo XIV on Monday condemned the antisemitic violence that fueled a deadly shooting in at a Hanukkah celebration in Sydney’s Bondi Beach area, where at least 15 people were killed and dozens more were injured.
The pope made remarks condemning hatred and violence and prayed for the victims and urged world leaders and the faithful to reject hatred and violence, saying “enough with these forms of antisemitic violence.” His remarks echoed global outrage and solidarity with the Jewish community in the wake of the attack, highlighting the need to confront rising hate crimes worldwide.
In a separate Vatican statement, Pope Leo reiterated his appeal for peace and spoke of eliminating hatred from people’s hearts as part of the broader message of fraternity during the holiday season. He offered condolences to Australian authorities and religious leaders, emphasizing spiritual closeness to those affected by the terrorist massacre.
The call for an end to antisemitic violence comes as governments and faith leaders around the world condemn the Sydney attack and vow to strengthen efforts against religiously motivated hatred.