Pope Leo XIV has made a serious and urgent appeal for peace in the Middle East, warning that the growing conflict between Iran, Israel, and the United States could push the region into an “irreparable abyss.”
Speaking during his Sunday Angelus address from St. Peter’s Square, the Pope voiced his deep concern about recent events in Iran, where U.S. actions have heightened tensions., where U.S. bombers targeted nuclear facilities in Isfahan, Fordow, and Natanz following a flare-up of hostilities with Israel.
“Alarming news continues to arrive from the Middle East, especially from Iran,” he told the faithful gathered in the Vatican. “Humanity cries out and pleads for peace.”
The Pope, who has consistently called for a peaceful resolution to the long-standing tensions in the region, urged global leaders to reject violence and embrace diplomacy. He emphasized the devastating human toll of war, particularly on civilians in Gaza, Israel, and Iranian cities now fearing retaliation.
“In this dramatic scenario—which also includes Israel and Palestine—the daily suffering of the people, especially in Gaza, risks being forgotten, even as humanitarian needs grow more urgent by the day,” he said.
He warned that while wars are often justified in the name of national security, they rarely deliver lasting solutions and instead sow deep trauma across generations.
“War does not solve problems,” the Pope said. “It makes them worse. It leaves scars that take generations to heal. No military triumph can ever compensate for a mother’s grief, a child’s terror, or a future stolen by conflict.”
He called on political and military leaders to prioritize human dignity and to act with “responsibility and reason.”
“When human dignity is at stake, no conflict is distant,” he added. “The cry for peace must not be drowned out by the roar of weapons or the rhetoric of hate.”
With fears growing that the Iran-Israel confrontation could spark a wider regional war, Pope Leo concluded his message with a heartfelt plea for diplomacy to prevail.
“Let diplomacy silence the weapons,” he said. “Let nations build their future with peace—not with violence and bloodshed.”
Although the Vatican has yet to announce any formal mediation effort, officials confirm that the Holy See remains in active contact with international and humanitarian partners to closely monitor the situation.
