Pope Leo to Host Israeli President Herzog at Vatican Amid Invitation Mix-Up
By Global Leaders Insights Team | Sep 03, 2025
Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, will welcome Israeli President Isaac Herzog to the Vatican on Thursday, September 4, for a significant meeting. However, a small controversy has emerged over who invited whom. On Tuesday, Israel’s presidency announced that Herzog was invited by the pope.
The Vatican quickly clarified that it doesn’t typically invite heads of state but instead grants requests for audiences, implying Herzog’s side reached out first.
According to a source close to Herzog, this visit was initially planned with the late Pope Francis, but his illness and passing delayed it. After Pope Leo took office in May, the meeting was rescheduled through diplomatic channels.
- Pope Leo XIV to meet Israeli President Herzog at Vatican amid invitation dispute
- Herzog’s Vatican visit with Pope Leo focuses on Gaza hostages and Middle East peac
- Pope Leo XIV balances diplomacy as Herzog meeting stirs protocol controversy
The two leaders are expected to discuss pressing issues: securing the release of hostages held in Gaza, tackling the rise of global antisemitism, and protecting Christian communities in the Middle East.
Pope Leo, who succeeded Pope Francis—a vocal critic of Israel’s actions in Gaza—has been pushing for peace. Just last week, he made a heartfelt plea for a lasting ceasefire in the nearly two-year Israel-Hamas conflict, calling for the release of hostages and more humanitarian aid to Gaza. The Vatican usually stays quiet about papal meetings to maintain neutrality, so its public statement about the invitation was unusual.
Herzog’s visit isn’t just a sit-down with the pope. He’ll also meet Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s top diplomat, and tour the Vatican Archives and Library. This comes after a July phone call between Pope Leo and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, following an Israeli strike on Gaza’s Holy Family Catholic Church that killed three people.
Also Read: Trump Hosts Polish President Nawrocki at White House
Alongside Herzog’s visit, Pope Leo will also meet Polish President Karol Nawrocki on Friday, showing his active role in global diplomacy. The Vatican’s handling of this visit highlights its careful effort to address Middle East tensions while staying a neutral voice for peace.
