As tensions between the United States and Israel on one side, and Iran on the other, threaten to escalate into a full-scale regional war, Pope Leo XIV has issued an impassioned plea for peace, warning that conflict only fuels greater suffering and leaves lasting scars on generations.
In a message shared on his verified X account on Sunday, the Pontiff declared: “War does not solve problems; on the contrary, it amplifies them and inflicts deep wounds on the history of peoples, which take generations to heal.
“No armed victory can compensate for the pain of mothers, the fear of children, or stolen futures. May diplomacy silence the weapons! May nations chart their futures with works of peace, not with violence and bloodstained conflicts!”
His appeal comes just hours after dramatic escalations in the Middle East and the Gulf region.
Meanwhile, Iran’s parliament has voted to close the critical Strait of Hormuz, a maritime choke point through which nearly 20% of the world’s oil and gas supply flows, following a barrage of US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites.
Any disruption to shipping through the strait would likely trigger a surge in global oil prices and could complicate the movement of American naval forces in the Persian Gulf.
The move has drawn strong warnings from the US, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio calling it “economic suicide.”
“If they do that, it will be another terrible mistake. It’s economic suicide for them if they do it, and we retain options to deal with that,” Rubio said during a live FOX News appearance.
Earlier, President Donald Trump, in a statement released on his official social media platforms, confirmed that the US military had launched “a full-scale military assault” on Iranian nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan.
“We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan,” Trump announced.
“All planes are now outside of Iran air space. A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow. All planes are safely on their way home.”
However, Iranian officials pushed back, claiming the strikes failed to damage their nuclear infrastructure significantly.
According to state media, enriched uranium and vital equipment had already been evacuated from the targeted sites.
An American lawmaker, Ilhan Omar, a longtime critic of America’s foreign military interventions, has issued a scathing statement condemning the president’s action.
“The strikes on Iran, ordered by President Trump and executed without congressional authorisation, mark a dangerous and reckless escalation of an already volatile conflict in the Middle East,” she said.
“Military strikes will not bring peace. They will only provoke more violence, destabilise the region, and endanger U.S. troops and civilians.”
Omar continued, “We’ve seen what happens when diplomacy is side-lined in favour of bombs. It only brings more death and destruction. Congress must vote immediately on Rep. Thomas Massie and Sen. Tim Kaine’s War Powers resolutions when we return to session. The American people are tired of endless war. We need to end this madness before more lives are lost.”
