Vatican City — Pope Leo criticized President Donald Trump’s threats against Iran just hours before the U.S. announced a two-week delay in military action. Speaking to reporters outside his residence in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, the pontiff called the threat “truly unacceptable.”
He condemned the escalating tensions and urged an immediate end to the conflict, emphasizing the moral implications of military threats. “There are certainly issues of international law here, but even more so a moral issue for the good of the whole entire population,” he said.
The pope’s comments appeared to reference a Trump post on Truth Social, where the president warned that a civilization could be lost and expressed hope that Iran’s people would be spared. Trump later announced that he would delay attacking Iran for two weeks, contingent upon Iran opening the Strait of Hormuz and engaging in negotiations, according to the president’s social media posts.
Leo also condemned attacks on civilian infrastructure, calling them violations of international law and signs of hatred and division. He described the ongoing conflict as unjust and said it was fueling economic and energy crises in the Middle East and worldwide.
The pope made a rare public appeal to ordinary citizens, urging them to contact their leaders and advocate for peace. This marked a notable stance for the leader of the Catholic Church, who had previously called on Trump to find an “off-ramp” to end the Iran conflict. Leo emphasized the need to protect civilians, including children, the elderly, and the sick, from the ongoing violence.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
