PoliticsPope Leo XIV Issues Urgent Call for Peace Amid Donald Trump's Bombing of Iran: 'An Irreparable Abyss' Awaits
Pope Leo XIV led a peace plea at St. Peter’s Square amid Donald Trump-approved U.S. strikes on Iran.
June 24 2025, Published 5:43 p.m. ET
Pope Leo XIV issued a stark warning of an "irreparable abyss" as U.S. forces conducted airstrikes on Iran following President Donald Trump's go-signal to target the nation’s critical nuclear sites.
The Pope used his Sunday Angelus prayer at St. Peter's Square to emphasize the need for peace and global diplomacy amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.
On June 21, Trump approved the strikes in coordination with an Israeli offensive, marking a larger hostility as Iran pledged to protect its territory.
Pope Leo XIV wants peace in the Middle East.
"Every member of the international community has a moral responsibility: to stop the tragedy of war before it becomes an irreparable abyss," the Pope declared during his weekly address in Piazza San Pietro.
He urged for "rational attention" to peace negotiations and noted that "now, more than ever, humanity calls out for peace, a plea that requires rational attention and should not be silenced."
Donald Trump claimed the strikes on Iran would bring 'peace.'
Pope Leo continued, "No armed victory can compensate for the pain of mothers, the fear of children, the stolen future. Let diplomacy silence the weapons, let nations chart their future with peace efforts, not with violence and bloody conflict."
The pontiff did not shy away from addressing the ongoing strife between Israel and Palestine, highlighting the suffering of civilians in Gaza and other areas. He pointed out that humanitarian needs are becoming increasingly urgent amid the dramatic circumstances.
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Pope Leo XIV was an outspoken Donald Trump critic prior to geting his job.
In Iran, anxiety mounts over the potential for a deeper, more chaotic conflict as tensions rise, particularly following a week marked by conflict with Israel.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the U.S. military actions on Sunday, calling it a "dangerous military operation" and warned of "everlasting consequences."
During a rapid press briefing the evening before, Trump praised the armed forces and expressed gratitude to God for their success in the operations.
The previous pontiff, Pope Francis, opposed Donald Trump's approach to immigration.
"And I want to just thank everybody, and in particular, God. I want to just say we love you, God, and we love our great military. Protect them," Trump stated.
Before his papacy, Leo was an outspoken critic of Trump, often vocalizing his views on social media platforms. The Vatican has not validated claims about the Pope's prior social media presence, which reportedly operated under the handle @drprevost before being deactivated.
Former Pope Francis, who served for 12 years, previously criticized Trump's mass deportation plans and the president's approach to immigration, asserting that "a person who thinks only about building walls, wherever they may be, and not building bridges, is not Christian."
