Pope Leo XIV calls for immediate ceasefire in Middle East war
The pontiff appealed for an end to fighting between the U.S., Israel and Iran, citing thousands of civilian deaths and regional suffering.
8:19 PM
Pope Leo XIV made a public appeal Sunday for an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran, citing the deaths of thousands of civilians and widespread suffering across the region.
Speaking during the weekly Angelus prayer at St. Peter's Square in Vatican City, the pontiff described the violence as "atrocious" and said the peoples of the Middle East have endured extreme violence for the past two weeks. The war entered its 16th day following a joint U.S. and Israeli attack on Iran.
"Thousands of innocent people have been killed and countless others have been forced to flee their homes," the Pope said. "I renew my closeness to all those who have lost loved ones in attacks that struck schools, hospitals and residential areas."
The pontiff directly addressed those responsible for the conflict. "In the name of Christians in the Middle East and all women and men of good will, I appeal to those responsible for this war: ceasefire. Let the paths of dialogue be reopened. Violence can never lead to the justice, stability and peace that people expect," he stated.
Pope Leo XIV, the first North American pope, emphasized that continued fighting will not achieve the objectives sought by regional societies. He stressed that violence cannot bring about the justice, stability and peace that the peoples of the region desire.
The Pope also expressed concern about the situation in Lebanon, which he said has been devastated by Israeli actions. He called for dialogue to resume alongside the ceasefire, underscoring that military action alone cannot resolve the underlying conflict.
The appeal came as the regional conflict continues to escalate, with civilian casualties mounting across multiple countries in the Middle East.