U.S.-IRAN CONFLICT

Pope Leo XIV has openly criticized President Donald Trump’s recent strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities, asserting forcefully that “war does not solve problems.” In his weekly address on Sunday, the pontiff expressed deep alarm over escalating tensions in the Middle East, particularly from Iran, stating that “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.”

The Holy Father appealed to the international community to collectively work towards peace, emphasizing that “Every member of the international community has a moral responsibility to stop the tragedy of war before it becomes an irreparable chasm.” He underscored the universal impact of conflict, proclaiming, “There are no ‘distant’ conflicts when human dignity is at stake.”

His critique came hours after President Trump announced that the United States had used B-2 bombers equipped with “bunker-busting” bombs, among other military aircraft, to strike three Iranian nuclear facilities. This decision to join Israel’s military action against Iran has reportedly enraged lawmakers, and Tehran has vowed a response with “everlasting consequences.”

Pope Leo XIV’s comments follow his earlier criticisms of Trump and Vice President JD Vance’s hardline immigration policies prior to his appointment as Pope last month. Robert Prevost, as he was known before assuming the papacy, had shared multiple op-eds on X (formerly Twitter) critical of the two, with his online critiques of Trump dating back to 2015. Vice President Vance, a convert to Catholicism, has previously dismissed these past criticisms.

Just a day prior, on Saturday, Pope Leo also issued a more subtle rebuke of Trump’s frequent attacks and lawsuits against news organizations, by warning that “wherever a journalist is silenced, the democratic soul of a country is weakened.”

This conflict marks the first major global military crisis since the American-born Leo assumed the papacy. Since then, he has consistently urged world leaders to prioritize diplomacy over violence in existing conflicts, including Russia’s war in Ukraine and the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

Reiterating his core message on Sunday, Pope Leo XIV declared: “War does not solve problems; on the contrary, it amplifies them and inflicts deep wounds on the history of peoples, which take generations to heal. No armed victory can compensate for the pain of mothers, the fear of children, or stolen futures. May diplomacy silence the weapons! May nations chart their futures with works of peace, not with violence and bloodstained conflicts!” In his Angelus address, he also highlighted that the “daily suffering of the population—especially in Gaza and other territories—risks being forgotten, even as the need for adequate humanitarian aid becomes ever more urgent.” He concluded his address by expressing hope for the cessation of hostilities, saying, “Let diplomacy silence the weapons! Let nations shape their future with works of peace, not through violence and bloody conflicts!”