Just 48 hours after a fragile ceasefire was declared between Iran and Israel, Cardinal Dominique Mathieu, Archbishop of Tehran-Isfahan, shared his experience of the recent 12-day conflict in an exclusive interview with I.MEDIA. He described a tense, uncertain period marked by prayer, near-total solitude, and an ever-present awareness that peace remains distant.
Appointed in 2021, the 62-year-old Belgian Franciscan had no special protection during the hostilities. Yet he continued his spiritual duties, including celebrating the Eucharist and praying with a young African medical student he had taken in after a drone strike damaged the student’s dormitory.
How are you feeling now, in the aftermath of the conflict?
Cardinal Mathieu: We’ve just come through 12 days of asymmetrical warfare, complicated by the involvement of a third party. The ceasefire we have now is tenuous — it’s built on deterrence, not on any real negotiations. We’re far from mutual respect or trust. At this point, reconciliation is not even on the table. The focus is still on the right to self-defense, even preemptively. Peace is not yet in sight.
What was daily life like during the conflict, and what is the mood in Tehran now?
Cardinal Mathieu: Every day depended on the timing of strikes and counterattacks, which often meant no sleep at night. I celebrated Mass whenever the few Catholics still in the city could make it. Meals and the Liturgy of the Hours were improvised. Each evening, the student staying with me and I spent an hour in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament, praying for peace — in the world and in our hearts.
We had no shelter, no warning sirens. We watched from the rooftop to see which districts were hit, checked social media when possible, called friends, and listened carefully for any sounds that might warn of a new attack.
Now, with the ceasefire holding for the past two days, half the population who fled is returning. The streets, once deserted, are bustling again — as though nothing had happened.
What does it mean to be a cardinal in Iran, leading a tiny Latin Catholic community amid such turmoil?
Cardinal Mathieu: In the darkness of war, when violence seems to have the upper hand, Christ reminds us that true greatness lies in serving others and in sacrifice. My role became something deeper — a call to witness God’s love even in the heart of conflict.
It’s not just a personal offering, but a response to Jesus’ own words: “No one has greater love than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13). That love took the form of sheltering someone in need, supporting isolated faithful, and constant prayer for peace.
This isn’t a meaningless sacrifice. It’s a sign of hope. When we stay close to those who suffer, we become instruments of peace. Even in destruction, compassion can prevail. Greatness isn’t about power or wealth — it’s about choosing to love, even in the hardest moments.
You participated in the conclave that elected Pope Leo XIV. His first message focused on peace. In a world drifting more into what Pope Francis called a “third world war fought in pieces,” what role can the Church play?
Cardinal Mathieu: In an age of over-armament and fading diplomacy, the Church must embody what Pope Leo XIV calls an “unarmed and disarming peace.” This isn’t a peace that forces or conquers — it’s one that soothes and invites.
Beyond dismantling weapons, the Church must help cultivate inner peace — through prayer, compassion, and dialogue. We are called to foster reconciliation, justice, and love, building a future where dignity and forgiveness prevail.
That’s where the Church’s strength lies: in disarming hearts, and in pointing to a peace that truly lasts.
* Iran has a population of over 80 million, with about 2,000 Latin Rite Catholics.
