A few hours after the United States bombed nuclear sites in Iran, Pope Leo XIV issued a passionate appeal for de-escalation. After leading the midday Angelus, the Holy Father spoke of the "alarming news" emerging from "the Middle East, especially from Iran."
War does not solve problems; on the contrary, it amplifies them and inflicts deep wounds on the history of peoples, which take generations to heal. No armed victory can compensate for the pain of mothers, the fear of children, or stolen futures.
May diplomacy silence the weapons! May nations chart their futures with works of peace, not with violence and bloodstained conflicts!
Pope Leo also warned that against the "tragic backdrop, which includes Israel and Palestine" the "daily suffering" of people can be forgotten, "especially in Gaza and the other territories, where the need for adequate humanitarian aid is becoming increasingly urgent."
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.
This is the second time that the Pope has made the appeal for "responsibility and reason" in the Iran-Israel conflict.
Since the end of May, according to AFP, 450 people have been killed and nearly 3,500 wounded while trying to reach aid distribution points in Gaza, according to the latest figures from the Gaza Ministry of Health, which are considered reliable by the UN.
On Saturday night, the US military targeted three of Iran's main nuclear sites. US President Donald Trump praised the operation, which he said completely destroyed Iran's nuclear enrichment capabilities. Iranian missiles were fired in retaliation at Israel.
On the X network, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghtchi condemned the act.
