Pope Leo XIV called for an end to the war in Iran and warned on March 8 that the conflict could spread instability across the Middle East.
The pope’s remarks come as violence continues in the region, raising concerns about a broader escalation. Speaking to pilgrims after praying the Angelus prayer, Pope Leo said recent developments from Iran and other parts of the Middle East have caused him “deep dismay.”
“Amid episodes of violence and devastation, and the widespread climate of hatred and fear, there is also the concern that the conflict may widen and that other countries in the region, including Lebanon, may once again sink into instability,” he said.
According to The Associated Press, Israeli forces struck an oil storage facility in Tehran and carried out targeted assaults in southern Lebanon against commanders of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards. In response, Iran has continued attacks on U.S. allies in the Gulf, including firing missiles at a desalination plant in Bahrain. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi defended these actions by saying that “the U.S. set this precedent” after it struck a desalination plant in Iran.
The pope expressed particular concern for Lebanon as government officials confirmed that fighting between Israel and Hezbollah militants has resulted in 394 deaths, including 83 children. Since hostilities began on Feb. 28, at least 1,230 people have been killed in Iran, about a dozen in Israel, and six U.S. service members have died.
In his appeal to Catholics worldwide, Pope Leo urged prayers so that “the roar of bombs may cease, that the weapons may fall silent, and that a space for dialogue may open in which the voice of the peoples can be heard.” He added: “I entrust this supplication to Mary, Queen of Peace. May she intercede for those who suffer because of war and guide hearts along the paths of reconciliation and hope.”
Less than a day after fighting began, Pope Leo called for diplomacy to “regain its proper role” so that “the well-being of peoples, who yearn for peaceful existence founded on justice, be upheld.” At his Angelus address on March 1—hours after news broke that Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed—the pope said: “Stability and peace are not achieved through mutual threats, nor through the use of weapons… but only through reasonable, sincere, and responsible dialogue.” He warned: “Faced with the possibility of a tragedy of immense proportions, I make a heartfelt appeal to all parties involved to assume the moral responsibility of halting the spiral of violence before it becomes an irreparable abyss.”
Observers say Pope Leo’s repeated calls highlight growing fears over regional stability as violence escalates.
