Madonna asks Pope Leo to visit 'suffering' children in Gaza 'before it's too late'

Madonna has asked Pope Leo to visit "suffering" children in Gaza "before it's too late."

The pop star, who was raised a Roman Catholic, made the request Monday on social media.

“Most Holy Father, Please go to Gaza and bring your light to the children before it’s too late,” Madonna posted. “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.”

In the caption of the post, Madonna wrote, "Politics Cannot affect Change. Only consciousness Can. Therefore I am Reaching out to a Man of God."

She added that it was her son Rocco's birthday, saying, "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.

"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. I am merely trying to do what I can to keep these children from dying of starvation."

Since his papacy began in May, Pope Leo has criticized the war in Gaza, raising concerns for Palestinian civilians, CNN reported.

“I am following with great concern the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, where the civilian population is suffering from severe hunger and remains exposed to violence and death,” the pope said in July, calling for a ceasefire.

More than 18,000 children have been killed in Gaza since the war started, following Hamas' attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, according to UNICEF.

World Health Organization director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus responded to Madonna's post on Monday, thanking her for her “compassion, solidarity and commitment to care for everyone caught in the Gaza crisis, especially the children. This is greatly needed.

“Humanity and peace must prevail,” he added.