Pope Leo XIV Warns Trump Against Violence as US–Israel Strikes Iran
Pope Leo XIV has made a rare and forceful public appeal for peace amid a violent escalation in the Middle East, warning that continued military action threatens to push the region into an “irreparable abyss.”
Speaking from the Vatican on March 1, the pontiff urged world leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump, to drop threats and arms in favor of diplomacy and dialogue to halt rising violence. According to OSV News and The Independent, he said stability and peace cannot be achieved through weapons but through meaningful conversation.
The Pope’s remarks came as joint U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran — part of the Trump administration’s military campaign — continued to unfold, and reports emerged of senior Iranian figures killed in early assaults. This escalation has sparked widespread concern and uncertainty about the potential for a wider conflict.
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In his address, Leo stressed that weapons only sow “destruction, pain and death” and appealed for all parties to assume moral responsibility to stop the spiral of violence before it becomes unbridgeable.
“I am following with deep concern what is happening in the Middle East… Stability and peace are not built through mutual threats or with weapons that sow destruction,” the Pope said.
His call for peace echoed other global leaders urging restraint and diplomacy, intensifying questions over how far the conflict might spread and whether international pressure can bring about negotiations.
The Pope’s intervention marks a significant public critique of the path of military escalation and puts further spotlight on efforts to halt fighting and pursue diplomatic solutions.
What happens next will depend on whether world powers heed such appeals and whether diplomatic channels can be revived amid growing tensions.
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