VATICAN CITY (LifeSiteNews) — Following U.S. military strikes on Iran, Pope Leo XIV has reiterated his regular calls for peace, citing the “alarming news” in Iran.
Addressing pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday afternoon, Pope Leo urged peace rather than military action in the Middle East:
Alarming news continues to emerge from the Middle East, especially from Iran. Against this tragic backdrop, which includes Israel and Palestine, people’s daily suffering, especially in Gaza and the other territories, where the need for adequate humanitarian aid is becoming increasingly urgent, risks being forgotten.
Pope Leo today re-iterated his call for peace, highlighting Iran after US bombing strikes last night: “May diplomacy silence the weapons”
Full comments: “Alarming news continues to emerge from the Middle East, especially from Iran.
In this dramatic scenario, which includes… pic.twitter.com/faPpDRI21z— Michael Haynes 🇻🇦 (@MLJHaynes) June 22, 2025
The Pope’s message came hours after the U.S. carried out bombing strikes on Iranian nuclear sites late Saturday night.
President Donald Trump hailed the attack as “very successful,” adding afterwards that “now is the time for peace. Thank you for your attention to this matter.”
Vice President JD Vance argued that the U.S. “did not attack the nation of Iran. We did not attack any civilian targets. We didn’t even attack military targets outside of the three nuclear weapons facilities.”
Trump’s press secretary Karoline Leavitt commented that “the world should be pleased with the courageous action that our United States military took.”
The U.S. strikes have divided opinions sharply: some argue that Trump’s decision to back Israeli action against Iran was aiding the global peace plan by attempting to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear arsenal; others have condemned the attack as U.S. involvement in another “forever war” and warned about the high risk of retaliatory attacks by Iranians against America.
Leaving aside the political arguments, Leo instead insisted on peace talks:
Today more than ever, humanity cries out and calls for peace. This is a cry that requires responsibility and reason, and it must not be drowned out by the din of weapons or the rhetoric that incites conflict. Every member of the international community has a moral responsibility to stop the tragedy of war before it becomes an irreparable chasm. There are no ‘distant’ conflicts when human dignity is at stake.
In his very first such Sunday address in mid-May, Leo began what has been a consistent theme of his young pontificate – namely, urging peace in the world. “Never again war,” he urged, citing the conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, and Pakistan by name.
The U.S. strike on Iran has been especially warmly welcomed by Israeli political leaders, who have thanked Trump for joining their efforts. It is believed to be largely due to influence of Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu that Trump decided on the strikes.
But others have warned that the move will serve to increase local and international violence, along with an escalation of persecution of Christians in the already beleaguered region.
