Pope Leo XIV finally spoke up about the military action against Iran and, to no one’s surprise, urged the U.S. and other nations to avoid plunging the region into an “irreparable abyss.”
Speaking in the Vatican on Sunday, the American-born pontiff expressed his “deep concern” over the U.S.-Israel airstrikes on Iran, delivering a message that seemed clearly aimed at President Donald Trump and other leaders.
“Stability and peace are not built with mutual threats, nor with weapons, which sow destruction, pain, and death, but only through a reasonable, authentic, and responsible dialogue,” he said, according to Vatican News.
JUST IN: Pope Leo SIV issues urgent plea for peace in Middle East & Iran, warning about risk of an “irreparable chasm”
“I am following with deep concern what is happening in the Middle East and Iran in these dramatic moments.
Peace is not built with threat and arms which will… pic.twitter.com/TNC0Dt7shA
— Michael Haynes 🇻🇦 (@MLJHaynes) March 1, 2026
“Faced with the possibility of a tragedy of enormous proportions,” the pope added, “I address to the parties involved a heartfelt appeal to assume the moral responsibility to stop the spiral of violence before it becomes an irreparable abyss!”
The 70-year-old head of the Catholic Church took to social media with a message that reiterated his remarks at the Angelus following the strikes that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and others in the regime’s leadership.
“Faced with the possibility of a tragedy of immense proportions, I make a heartfelt appeal to all the parties involved to assume the moral responsibility of halting the spiral of violence before it becomes an unbridgeable chasm,” he wrote on X.
“May diplomacy regain its proper role, and may the well-being of peoples, who yearn for peaceful existence founded on justice, be upheld. And let us continue to pray for peace,” he added.
Faced with the possibility of a tragedy of immense proportions, I make a heartfelt appeal to all the parties involved to assume the moral responsibility of halting the spiral of violence before it becomes an unbridgeable chasm. May diplomacy regain its proper role, and may the…
— Pope Leo XIV (@Pontifex) March 1, 2026
While many social media users gave a devout “amen” to Pope Leo’s plea, there was a definitive reaction from many who reminded everyone of the Iranian regime’s repressive hold on power for nearly five decades.
There has been an irreparable chasm for 50 years and President Trump likely just began repairing it.
— Augustina 🇻🇦 (@AugustinaJJD) March 1, 2026
Iranian Christians were shown praying and praising Jesus in public for the first time in 50 years. He needs to sit this one out
— Bette Davis (@BetteDa53428528) March 1, 2026
True peace requires justice.
— Kay Barker (@KasseyBarker) March 1, 2026
90 million oppressed Persians disagree! For the first time in 47 years they have hope!
— Colleen the Vet (@colleenthevet) March 1, 2026
Wants to continue “dialog” with the chef exporter of terror around the world for the last several decades and implies the West is to blame for “irreparable chasm”. Meanwhile… https://t.co/nALwDtIZdu
— TraditionalLiturgicalMale-Unvxd✝️ 🌸🎗️ (@KnightsRepose) March 1, 2026
Would Mr. Pope have argued against fighting the Nazis and Tojo in WWII to avoid a spiral of violence?
— Okham Man (@OckhamMan) March 1, 2026
American force of arms does the hard work so that people with a child’s understanding of the world can offer treacly commentary.
— Eucatastrophe (@dferg) March 1, 2026
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida. Powers also contributes to BizPac Review.
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