Pope Leo XIV has voiced strong opposition to President Donald Trump’s recent military strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities, emphasizing that “war does not solve problems.” In his weekly address on Sunday, the pontiff expressed concern over the escalating situation in the Middle East, particularly in Iran. “Alarming news continues to emerge from the Middle East, especially from Iran. Today, more than ever, humanity cries out and calls for peace,” he stated, as reported by Vatican News. He underscored the need for responsibility and reason, asserting that these values must not be overshadowed by the sound of weapons or provocative rhetoric.
The Pope urged the international community to unite in the quest for peace. “Every member of the international community has a moral responsibility to stop the tragedy of war before it becomes an irreparable chasm. There are no ‘distant’ conflicts when human dignity is at stake,” he remarked.
His comments were issued just hours after Trump confirmed a U.S. military operation targeting three of Iran’s nuclear sites, deploying a combination of B-2 bombers with 30,000-pound “bunker-busting” bombs and other aircraft. This strike, which was part of a coordinated offensive with Israel, has sparked outrage among lawmakers, and Iranian officials have promised to deliver a response with “everlasting consequences.” The White House has yet to comment on the Pope’s criticisms.
Earlier this year, Leo, formerly known as Robert Prevost, had already challenged Trump and Vice President JD Vance regarding their stringent immigration policies before his papacy. His critiques of Trump date back to 2015 and include various op-eds published across social media platforms. Vice President Vance, who converted to Catholicism as an adult, has dismissed Leo’s past remarks.
In addition, Pope Leo XIV cautioned on Saturday that “wherever a journalist is silenced, the democratic soul of a country is weakened,” hinting at Trump’s repeated criticisms of and legal actions against the media. Leo’s statements follow a similar criticism from Pope Francis concerning Vance’s immigration policies, which sparked Vance’s surprise at the papal pushback.
This situation marks the first significant military crisis on a global scale during Leo’s brief tenure as pope, having taken office just last month. Since assuming the papacy, he has consistently urged leaders to prioritize diplomatic solutions over conflict, emphasizing the importance of addressing wars such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the current situation in Gaza.