Pope Leo XIV has renewed his plea for an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East, describing the ongoing conflict as a “scandal to the whole human family”. Speaking during his weekly Angelus prayer in St. Peter’s Square, the pontiff said he continues to follow the situation in the region with “dismay”.
The US-Israeli war on Iran has now entered its fourth week, with Pope Leo expressing deep concern over the suffering of civilians. “We cannot remain silent in the face of the suffering of so many people, the defenceless victims of these conflicts,” he said, urging the faithful to pray for an end to hostilities.
In a separate development, the Vatican’s top diplomat, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, made an unusually direct appeal to US President Donald Trump to bring the Iran war to a swift conclusion. Parolin also called on Israel to halt its strikes against Lebanon, saying: “I would say to finish it as soon as possible … and to leave Lebanon alone.”
The cardinal, known for his diplomatic restraint, warned that the conflict could escalate further unless world leaders resort to peaceful diplomacy. “We must resolve problems through the peaceful ways of diplomacy and dialogue,” he added.
