VATICAN CITY – Amid growing fears of a full-scale regional war in the Middle East, Pope Leo XIV on Sunday issued a passionate appeal for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Iran, warning that continued hostilities threaten to plunge the region—and the world—into deeper crisis.
Addressing thousands gathered in Saint Peter’s Square for the Angelus on the Feast of Corpus Christi, the Pope decried the escalating bloodshed and called on global leaders to embrace dialogue over destruction.
“Alarming news continues to arrive from the Middle East, especially from Iran,” he said, referencing the latest exchange of military strikes between Israel and Iran, and a recent U.S. bombing campaign targeting Iranian nuclear sites. “Today more than ever, humanity cries out and pleads for peace.”
In a speech that was both urgent and deeply emotional, Pope Leo warned that “war does not solve problems—it only amplifies them and creates wounds that take generations to heal.”
His remarks came as international tension surged following the United States’ airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities, triggering fears of a broader regional confrontation.
Israeli and Iranian forces have also carried out tit-for-tat attacks, worsening an already fragile security situation in the Middle East.
The Pope highlighted the dire humanitarian conditions in Gaza and other conflict-hit territories, expressing concern that the suffering of civilians—especially women and children—risks being overshadowed by political and military agendas.
“In this dramatic scenario, which includes Israel and Palestine, the daily suffering of the population—especially in Gaza—risks being forgotten, even as the need for adequate humanitarian aid becomes ever more urgent,” he said.
Pope Leo also delivered a forceful message to the international community: “Every member has a moral responsibility to stop the tragedy of war before it becomes an irreparable abyss.”
He urged global leaders to reject inflammatory rhetoric and instead engage in “reason and responsibility,” warning that the roar of weapons must not drown out the voice of conscience.
“No military victory can ever compensate for a mother’s pain, a child’s fear, or a stolen future,” the pontiff said, drawing applause from the faithful gathered for the Angelus.
Tying his message of peace to the celebration of Corpus Christi, Pope Leo reflected on the Gospel account of Jesus feeding the five thousand.
He called on Christians to be agents of communion and reconciliation in a world fractured by division and violence.
“The Eucharist is not only a sacred ritual—it is a call to unity, a reminder of God’s love that transforms scarcity into abundance, despair into hope,” he said. “Let us go forth as bearers of peace.”
As diplomatic efforts stall and regional powers harden their positions, the Pope’s plea stands as one of the few moral voices calling for de-escalation.
“Let diplomacy silence the weapons!” he declared. “Let nations shape their future with works of peace, not through violence and bloody conflicts.”
The Pope concluded his address with warm greetings to pilgrims from around the world, including Colombia, Poland, Austria, and Italy, and extended a personal invitation to the Eucharistic Procession through Rome later that evening.
