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Pope Leon XIV joined the voices demanding a ceasefire in the Middle East, specifically addressing the leaders who launched the war in Iran, though not citing the United States or Israel by name on Sunday (March 15).
“On behalf of the Christians of the Middle East and all women and men of good will, I appeal to those responsible for this conflict,” Leo said via ABC News. “Cease fire so that avenues for dialogue may be reopened. Violence can never lead to the justice, stability, and peace that the people are waiting for.”
Leo, the first U.S. pope in history, referenced attacks targeting a school, an apparent reference to the missile strike on an elementary school in Iran during the early days of the war, which has resulted in more than 165 deaths, many of which are children. U.S. officials claimed that outdated intelligence was suspected to have resulted in the strike and said an investigation was ongoing.
The Vatican displayed the carnage of the Minab strike, showing an aerial photo of the mass gave that was being dug for the children killed on March 6 on the front page of its L'Osservator Romano newspaper with the headline The Face of War. Pope Leo said he was close to the families of the victims killed in the attacks “which have hit schools, hospitals and residential centers" and expressed concern about the impact of the war in Lebanon, where aid groups have warned of a potential humanitarian crisis.