Pope Leo XIV Comments on U.S. Airstrikes in Iran

Pope Leo XIV addressed the recent U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, emphasizing that "war does not solve problems." In his weekly address on Sunday, he stated, "Alarming news continues to emerge from the Middle East, especially from Iran. Today, more than ever, humanity cries out and calls for peace. This is a cry that requires responsibility and reason, and it must not be drowned out by the din of weapons or the rhetoric that incites conflict." He urged the international community to work collectively to ensure peace, adding, "Every member of the international community has a moral responsibility to stop the tragedy of war before it becomes an irreparable chasm. There are no 'distant' conflicts when human dignity is at stake." These remarks followed President Donald Trump's announcement that the United States had conducted airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities—Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan—using a combination of B-2 bombers equipped with 30,000-pound "bunker-busting" bombs and other military aircraft. The decision to join Israel's assault on Iran has led to heightened tensions, with Iran vowing a response with "everlasting consequences." The White House did not respond to an immediate request for comment. Prior to his appointment as pope, Leo XIV, born Robert Prevost, had expressed criticism of President Trump's and Vice President JD Vance's immigration policies. He shared multiple op-eds critical of the two on social media, with critiques of Trump dating back to 2015. Vance, who converted to Catholicism as an adult, has dismissed these past critiques. Additionally, Leo XIV recently stated that "wherever a journalist is silenced, the democratic soul of a country is weakened," which has been interpreted as a subtle critique of President Trump's frequent attacks on and lawsuits against news organizations. Pope Francis, Leo's predecessor, had also criticized Vance's handling of immigration earlier this year, though he did not name him. Vance expressed surprise at Francis' comments. This situation marks the first global military crisis since Leo XIV was appointed pope last month. Since assuming the papacy, he has urged world leaders to pursue diplomacy over violence in conflicts such as Russia's war in Ukraine and the war in Gaza.