War in the Middle East & Iran ! Pope Leo : “Peace Is Not Built with Threats or Weapons”
Image : Pope Leão XIV
Sapnews Pro: Regarding the attack by the United States of America and Israel on Iran, which resulted in the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, the Holy Father Pope Leo XIV expressed deep concern and said, “Peace is not built through threats or with weapons, but through dialogue.”
“May diplomacy regain its role and promote the good of peoples, who long for peaceful coexistence founded on justice,” said Pope Leo XIV, according to Vatican News.
A few days after the fourth anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine, attention has now turned particularly to Iran, where a coordinated attack between the United States and Israel struck several Iranian cities since Saturday morning, killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Iran responded by targeting civilian sites and U.S. bases in Gulf countries and in Israel.
Shortly after praying the Marian Angelus prayer, Pope Leo XIV delivered the following words:
“I am following with deep concern what is happening in the Middle East and in Iran during these dramatic hours.
Stability and peace are not built through mutual threats, nor with weapons that sow destruction, pain, and death, but only through reasonable, authentic, and responsible dialogue.”
In light of the unpredictable developments of the conflict, the Holy Father also urged diplomacy to regain its role, reiterating that peoples long for peace founded on justice:
“Faced with the possibility of a tragedy of enormous proportions, I make a fervent appeal to the parties involved to assume the moral responsibility of halting the spiral of violence before it becomes an irreparable abyss.
May diplomacy regain its role and promote the good of peoples, who long for peaceful coexistence founded on justice. And let us continue to pray for peace.”
His call to continue praying for peace does not refer only to the Middle East. The Pontiff also turned his attention to the “open war” between Pakistan, a nuclear-armed country, and Afghanistan, where the Taliban are experienced in guerrilla warfare:
“In addition, in these days, troubling news has arrived about clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan. I raise my plea for an urgent return to dialogue.”
And once again, the appeal: “Let us pray together that harmony may prevail in all conflicts around the world. Only peace, a gift from God, can heal the wounds among peoples.”
