Pope Leo XIV has called on nations involved in the escalating Middle East crisis to recognise their moral responsibility to pursue peace, following reported airstrikes by the United States and Israel on Iran.
Delivering his Sunday Angelus address, as reported by Vatican News, the pontiff expressed deep concern about the unfolding developments, particularly those affecting Iran.
“Stability and peace are not built with mutual threats, nor with weapons, which sow destruction, pain, and death, but only through a reasonable, authentic, and responsible dialogue,” he said.
He warned that continued violence could have devastating consequences for the region and the wider world.
“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.
Pope Leo XIV also voiced hope that diplomatic engagement would regain priority in efforts to ease tensions.
“May diplomacy recover its role and may the good of people be promoted, peoples who long for peaceful coexistence founded on justice. And let us continue to pray for peace,” he said.
On Saturday, Israel and the United States carried out coordinated strikes on Tehran and other areas, prompting retaliatory missile and drone attacks by Iran targeting Israel and Gulf countries hosting US military bases.
In a dramatic development, Iranian state media later reported that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who led the Islamic Republic for nearly four decades, had died.