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Pope Leo XIV urges world to reject violence, return to diplomacy
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Describes overnight strikes on Iran as “alarming and tragic”
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Says war deepens wounds and prolongs human suffering
Pope Leo XIV has condemned the renewed military escalation in the Middle East, warning that war only worsens conflict and inflicts deep and lasting suffering on affected populations.
The pontiff made the statement on Sunday via his official X account, reacting to reports of overnight US military strikes on Iranian nuclear sites in Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan, which have further intensified regional tensions.
He described the developments as “alarming,” calling on the international community to urgently denounce the violence and prioritise humanitarian relief, particularly in Gaza and other affected territories.
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“Alarming news continues to emerge from the Middle East, especially from Iran,” the Pope said. “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.”
The pontiff stressed that the path of war has never delivered lasting peace, but instead deepens wounds that take generations to heal.
“War does not solve problems; on the contrary, it amplifies them and inflicts deep wounds on the history of peoples,” he stated.
His comments come just hours after U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed that American forces had carried out successful attacks on key Iranian nuclear sites in retaliation for what Washington claims were hostile activities by Tehran.
Tensions in the Middle East have escalated sharply, with Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian vowing a decisive response to the U.S. military action, while European powers including France, Germany, and the UK have called for restraint and a return to nuclear talks.
