Pope Leo calls for a ceasefire and denounces the “atrocious violence” in the Iran War
Pope Leo delivered a heartfelt appeal on Sunday for an immediate ceasefire in the escalating Iran war, expressing sorrow over the “atrocious violence” that he stated had resulted in the deaths of thousands of non-combatants and inflicted suffering throughout the region.
As the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran reaches its third week, the first U.S. pope cautioned that violence will not yield the justice, stability, and peace that the people of the region desire.
“For two weeks, the peoples of the Middle East have been enduring the horrific violence of war,” the pope stated during his weekly Angelus prayer in St. Peter’s Square.
“In the name of Christians in the Middle East and of all individuals of good will, I urge those responsible for this conflict: Cease fire!” Pope Leo stated.
The notion that war resolves issues is utterly ridiculous.
Leo noted that the situation in Lebanon, devastated by a conflict involving Israel and the Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah, was also a source of “great concern.”
“I express my hope for avenues of dialogue that can assist the country’s authorities in establishing enduring solutions to the significant crisis presently unfolding, for the collective benefit of all the Lebanese people,” the pope stated.
During a visit to a Rome parish later, the pope expressed that war can never resolve problems and criticized those who invoke God to justify killings. “Today many of our brothers and sisters in the world are suffering because of violent conflicts, caused by the absurd claim that problems and disagreements can be resolved through war, when instead we must engage in unceasing dialogue for peace,” he stated during his homily.
Some even go so far as to invoke the name of God to justify these choices of death, yet God cannot be enlisted by darkness. Instead, He consistently arrives to offer light, hope, and peace to humanity.
