Dhaka, Nov. 7 -- Pope Leo XIV held his first in-person meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday, where the two leaders discussed the urgent need to deliver humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza and to revive efforts toward a two-state solution to end the Middle East conflict.

The hour-long meeting at the Vatican was described as "cordial" in an official statement, taking place nearly a month after a U.S.-brokered ceasefire took effect in Gaza.

"During the cordial talks, it was recognized that there is an urgent need to provide assistance to the civilian population in Gaza and to end the conflict by pursuing a two-State solution," the Holy See said in a statement.

Pope Leo and Abbas had previously spoken by phone in ...