VATICAN CITY (LifeSiteNews) — Pope Leo XIV has joined the Holy Land bishops in calling for an end to the war in Gaza.

In his general audience Wednesday morning, Pope Leo said, “I unite myself to the Joint Statement of the Greek Orthodox and Latin Patriarchs of Jerusalem, who yesterday called ‘to bring this spiral of violence to an end, to bring the war to a close, and to give priority to the common good of the people.’”

READ: Clergy, religious will remain in Gaza to care for those in need despite evacuation order

“I implore that all hostages be set free, that a lasting ceasefire be achieved, that the safe entry of humanitarian aid be ensured, and that humanitarian law be fully observed — above all the duty to protect civilians and the prohibitions against collective punishment, indiscriminate use of force, and the forced displacement of the population,” he added.

Tuesday’s joint statement of the Latin and Greek Orthodox patriarchates in Jerusalem — led respectively by Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa and Patriarch Theophilos III — reported that evacuation orders were underway for “several neighborhoods in Gaza City,” and stated that clergy and religious would remain in the city to care for the frail and disabled in parish compounds.

“Among those who have sought shelter within the walls of the compounds, many are weakened and malnourished due to the hardships of the last month,” the bishops wrote. “Leaving Gaza City and trying to flee to the south would be nothing less than a death sentence.”