Pope Leo XIV has renewed his plea for an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East, describing the death and suffering caused by the war as a 'scandal to the whole human family'. During his weekly Angelus prayer in St. Peter's Square, the Pope expressed dismay at the ongoing conflict, now in its fourth week.
'We cannot remain silent in the face of the suffering of so many people, the defenceless victims of these conflicts,' Leo said. 'I strongly renew my appeal for us to persevere in prayer, so that hostilities may cease and the way may finally be paved for peace.'
The Pope, known for his diplomatic tone, has intensified calls for an end to the Iran war. On Wednesday, the Vatican's top diplomat, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, made an unusually direct appeal to US President Donald Trump to end the expanding conflict and urged Israel to stop strikes against Lebanon.
'I would say to finish it as soon as possible ... and to leave Lebanon alone,' Parolin said. 'This message goes also to the Israelis.' The Cardinal, who has served as Vatican Secretary of State since 2013, typically avoids the spotlight but expressed concern that the conflict would continue to escalate.
Parolin called on Trump and other world leaders 'to resolve problems ... through the peaceful ways of diplomacy and dialogue'. The Vatican's direct appeals mark a departure from its usual behind-the-scenes diplomacy.
