Pope Leo XIV calls for peace as Iran–Israel conflict deepens

Pope Leo XIV on Sunday appealed to nations involved in the escalating Middle East conflict to recognise their moral responsibility to pursue peace, following reported airstrikes by the United States and Israel on Iran.

According to Vatican News, the Pope made the call during his Angelus address, expressing deep concern over recent developments in the region, particularly in Iran.

Stability and peace are not built with mutual threats, nor with weapons, which sow destruction, pain, and death, but only through reasonable, authentic, and responsible dialogue,” he said.

The Pontiff warned that an uncontrolled escalation of violence could have catastrophic consequences.

“Faced with the possibility of a tragedy of enormous proportions, I address to the parties involved a heartfelt appeal to assume the moral responsibility to stop the spiral of violence before it becomes an irreparable abyss,” he said.

He also prayed for diplomacy to regain prominence in resolving the crisis.

“May diplomacy recover its role and may the good of peoples be promoted—peoples who long for peaceful coexistence founded on justice. And let us continue to pray for peace,” he added.

Reports indicate that Israel and the United States launched joint airstrikes on Tehran and other Iranian cities on Saturday, prompting retaliatory attacks by Iran targeting Israel and several Gulf countries hosting American military bases.

In a dramatic development, Iranian state-run news agencies later announced the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who had ruled the country for nearly 37 years.

Culled from vanguard