Pope Leo XIV urges peace in the Middle East, condemning war’s toll and calling for diplomacy to end violence in Iran, Israel, and Palestine.
Newsroom, June 22, 2025, Gaudium Press — Pope Leo XIV issued a heartfelt plea for peace on Sunday, urging an immediate end to the escalating violence in the Middle East, particularly in Iran, Israel, and Palestine, where recent military actions have deepened an already dire humanitarian crisis.
Speaking during his weekly Angelus address in St. Peter’s Square, the Holy Father expressed profound concern over “alarming news” from the region, hours after U.S. airstrikes targeted nuclear facilities in Iran. The strikes followed a series of retaliatory attacks between Israel and Iran, further destabilizing the region.
“In this dramatic scenario, which includes Israel and Palestine, the daily suffering of the population—especially in Gaza and other territories—risks being forgotten,” Pope Leo said. He highlighted the urgent need for humanitarian aid, warning that the plight of civilians must not be overshadowed by the intensifying conflict.
“Today more than ever, humanity cries out and pleads for peace,” the Pope declared, emphasizing that this cry “demands responsibility and reason and must not be drowned out by the roar of weapons or by rhetorical words that incite conflict.”
Calling on the international community to act with moral urgency, Pope Leo stressed that no conflict is too distant when human dignity is at stake. He condemned war as a destructive force that “amplifies problems and causes deep wounds in the history of peoples—wounds that take generations to heal.”
“War does not solve problems,” he said. “No military victory can ever compensate for a mother’s pain, a child’s fear, or a stolen future.”
The Pope urged global leaders to prioritize diplomacy over violence, imploring them to “stop the tragedy of war before it becomes an irreparable abyss.” In a resounding call to action, he concluded: “Let diplomacy silence the weapons! Let nations shape their future with works of peace, not through violence and bloody conflicts!”
Pope Leo XIV’s appeal comes at a critical moment, as the Middle East teeters on the brink of further escalation, with the international community facing mounting pressure to broker a ceasefire and address the worsening humanitarian toll.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News
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