Pope Leo XIV affirmed on Sunday the Vatican's commitment to a two-state solution to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, saying in his first press conference aboard the plane that took him to Lebanon that this is"the only solution" that can guarantee justice for both sides.

The Pope made these remarks on the plane that took him from Istanbul to Beirut, in the second and final leg of his first foreign tour since assuming the papacy.

Although Leo had been answering journalists' questions in informal meetings at his rural residence, this brief encounter marked his first press conference as Pope, continuing the tradition of his predecessors in using his travels to engage with the media. However, the meeting was limited to just two questions from Turkish journalists.

A Turkish journalist asked the American-born Pope about his private conversations with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and whether they had discussed the wars in Gaza and Ukraine.

Lew confirmed that he had discussed this with Erdogan, and that Turkey has “an important role to play” in both conflicts, noting that “Erdogan’s government has already helped to facilitate low-level negotiations between Russia and Ukraine to end the war.”

The Pope added: “Unfortunately, we have not yet seen a solution, but today there are new and concrete proposals for peace.”

He went on to say that “the Vatican hopes that Erdogan will continue his dialogue with Ukraine, Russia and the United States to help reach a ceasefire and end the war that has been going on for nearly four years.”

Regarding Gaza, Pope Leo reiterated the Vatican’s long-standing position in support of a two-state solution for both Israel and the Palestinians.

The Pope continued: “We know that Israel, at the moment, does not accept this solution, but we see it as the only option that can provide a solution to the conflict. We are also friends of Israel, and we seek, with both sides, to be a mediating voice that can help them get closer to a solution that achieves justice for all.”