Manchester: Renowned Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola turned an honorary ceremony into a powerful platform for empathy and justice, delivering an emotional speech highlighting the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The address came as he received an honorary degree from the University of Manchester on Monday, presented by Chancellor Nazir Afzal at the iconic Whitworth Hall, reported the Newyork Times.
Instead of focusing on his celebrated football career, Guardiola chose to speak about the urgent need for compassion and moral responsibility in the face of global suffering. He drew attention to the devastating situations in Gaza, Sudan, Congo, and Ukraine, expressing deep anguish over the civilian toll.
“It’s so painful, what we see in Gaza,” Guardiola said, visibly emotional. “It hurts me — my whole body.”
Emphasizing that his message was beyond politics or ideology, he stated, “Let me be clear — it’s not about who is right or wrong. It’s just about the love of life. About care for your neighbour.” He described the harrowing images of children killed in bombings and dying in collapsing hospitals. “Maybe we think we see boys and girls, four years old, being killed… and we say, ‘It’s not our business.’ Yeah, fine. But be careful. The next ones could be ours.”
Drawing a personal connection, Guardiola reflected on his children — Maria, Màrius, and Valentina — and admitted, “Every morning since the nightmare started, when I see the images of infants in Gaza, I see my own kids. And I am scared.”
To address the helplessness many feel, he shared the parable of a small bird trying to extinguish a forest fire with drops of water. When mocked for its seemingly futile actions, the bird responded, “I know. But I’m doing my part.”
“This is not about scale,” Guardiola concluded. “It’s about choice. About showing up. About refusing to be silent or still when it matters most.”
The speech has since gone viral online, with thousands praising Guardiola for using his platform to raise awareness and express solidarity with the Palestinian people.
