150 Roman Catholic clergy members held a protest outside the Vatican against Israel's military actions in the Gaza Strip

About 150 Catholic priests, monks, and nuns marched to the Vatican on September 22, 2026, to protest Israel’s military actions in the Gaza Strip and southern Lebanon. The demonstration was organized by the international movement “Priests Against Genocide.”

The protesters marched down the main avenue leading to St. Peter’s Square, carrying a banner with the names of 300 children who had died since the start of hostilities. In front of St. Peter’s Basilica, the clergy offered a prayer and called on the international community to immediately “put an end to the genocide.” The demonstrators did not cross the Vatican’s borders; they were accompanied by Italian police along the entire route.

Among the participants was Franco Moscone, bishop of the Italian diocese of Manfredonia. After concluding their prayer vigil, the protesters headed to the embassies of the Palestinian Authority and Lebanon to express solidarity with their civilian populations. The march concluded at the Rome headquarters of the defense contractor Leonardo SpA, where the clergy called for an end to the production and supply of weapons.

The organizers noted that this year’s event drew significantly more participants than a similar march held by the movement a year ago. The “Priests Against Genocide” network was founded in August 2025 and today brings together more than 2,500 priests, religious, and bishops from various countries across five continents.