Pope Francis has appealed “in the name of God” for a ceasefire in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
In a message posted on X, the pontiff said "I beg you to stop: cease using weapons".
He also said he hoped that all "avenues will be pursued" in a bid to stop the violence.
"I continue to think about the serious situation in Palestine and in Israel where many, many people have lost their lives," he wrote.
"In God’s name, I beg you to stop: cease using weapons!
"I hope that avenues will be pursued so that an escalation of the conflict might be absolutely avoided."
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It came after he urged for the release of hostages and humanitarian aid for Gaza.
Speaking after the traditional Angelus prayer at Saint Peter's Square in Rome, Pope Francis said he continued to think about the situation in Palestine and Israel "where many people have lost their lives".
"I hope all the possibilities are being explored so that a widening of the conflict is absolutely avoided, that the wounded can be helped, and that aid can reach Gaza, where the humanitarian situation is very serious, and that the hostages be immediately released."
Despite appeals, Israel has continued its bombardment across Gaza, saying it is targeting Hamas fighters and assets everywhere and accusing it of using civilians as human shields.
Large areas of residential neighbourhoods in northern Gaza have been levelled in air strikes.
The UN office for humanitarian affairs says more than half the remaining residents, estimated at around 300,000, are sheltering in UN-run facilities, but Israeli strikes have also repeatedly hit and damaged those shelters.
