The meeting highlighted deepening ties between two major Christian denominations, as well as longstanding differences on the ordination of women.

Pope Leo said he has seen the letter from the parents of more than 100 children killed in the strike, which a preliminary inquiry found resulted from a mistake by the U.S. military.

On his recent trip abroad, Leo XIV made some of his most forthright comments since becoming pope last year, but grew uncomfortable at how that criticism was interpreted.