The head of the Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV, on Sunday expressed deep concern over the escalating conflict involving Iran, warning that the violence could spread further across the Middle East and urging an immediate halt to hostilities.
Speaking during the traditional Angelus prayer at St. Peter’s Square, the pontiff said disturbing reports continued to emerge from Iran and the wider region as fighting entered its ninth day following the United States–Israeli assault on Iranian targets.
The Pope cautioned that the ongoing conflict was fuelling fear and hatred and risked drawing in more countries, including Lebanon, which he said could once again face instability, Reuters reported.
“Alongside the episodes of violence and devastation and the widespread climate of hatred and fear, there is also growing concern that the conflict could spread and that other countries in the region, including dear Lebanon, could once again sink into instability,” Leo said.
He called for urgent efforts to end the violence and open channels for peaceful dialogue.
“Let us raise our humble prayer to the Lord that the roar of bombs may cease, that weapons may fall silent, and that space may be opened for dialogue in which the voices of peoples can be heard,” the pope added.
The remarks come amid intensifying international concern over the military campaign by the United States and Israel against Iran.
Earlier in the week, the Vatican’s top diplomat also criticised the strikes, warning that such actions undermined international law.
The conflict between Israel and Iran reflects decades of tension rooted in ideological, geopolitical and security disagreements.
After the 1979 Iranian Revolution, Tehran shifted from a cooperative relationship with Israel to one defined by hostility.
The Islamic Republic’s leaders have frequently condemned Israel’s existence and supported armed groups opposed to it, including Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza.
Israel, for its part, views Iran’s nuclear ambitions and regional influence as existential threats and has taken military, covert and cyber measures to counter them.
The recent conflict escalated when Israel and the United States conducted coordinated airstrikes against Iranian military and government targets, including the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, a move that plunged the region into a broader conflict.
Iran retaliated with missile and drone strikes against Israeli targets and US bases, while clashes have spread to neighbouring states and drawn in allied groups.
