Pope Leo XIV has condemned threats against civilians in Iran, describing them as “unacceptable” amid escalating tensions involving the United States.
Speaking on Tuesday, the pontiff reacted to remarks by US President Donald Trump, who warned that “a whole civilization will die” if Iran fails to comply with his ultimatum.
“Today… there was this threat against all the people of Iran, and this is truly unacceptable,” the pope said while speaking to journalists.
He stressed that beyond legal considerations, the situation raises serious moral concerns.
“There are certainly questions of international law, but much more than that, it is a moral question,” he added.
The pope also criticised attacks on civilian infrastructure, calling them violations of international law, and urged all parties to return to dialogue.
“Let’s talk. Let’s look for solutions in a peaceful way,” he said.
He further encouraged citizens of countries involved in the conflict to pressure their leaders to pursue peace.
Meanwhile, Archbishop Paul Coakley of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops called directly on Trump to de-escalate tensions.
“The threat of destroying a whole civilization and the intentional targeting of civilian infrastructure cannot be morally justified,” he said.
“I call on President Trump to step back from the precipice of war and negotiate a just settlement for the sake of peace and before more lives are lost,” Coakley added.
