Pope pleads for peace after Iran military strikes, retaliation

“Stability and peace are not built with mutual threats, nor with weapons, which sow destruction, pain and death, but only through a reasonable, authentic and responsible dialogue,” the Pope said at his Angelus prayer on March 1.

On February 28, Israel and the United States began carrying out joint airstrikes on Tehran and several other Iranian cities. Iran then responded with attacks on Israel and several Gulf countries which host American military bases.

Later, state-run news agencies announced the death of Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who had ruled Iran for nearly 37 years.

The Pope warned of an immense tragedy if violence escalates out of control.

“Faced with the possibility of a tragedy of enormous proportions,” he said, “I address to the parties involved a heartfelt appeal to assume the moral responsibility to stop the spiral of violence before it becomes an irreparable abyss!”

Pope Leo prayed that nations may return to dialogue in order to seek peace.

“May diplomacy recover its role and may the good of peoples be promoted, peoples who long for peaceful coexistence founded on justice,” he said. “And let us continue to pray for peace.”

Archbishop Paul Coakley, president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, echoed the Pope’s appeal and urgently called upon the United States, Iran and the broader international community to return to dialogue and pursue every avenue toward a just and lasting peace.

US President Donald Trump has said he expects the war with Iran to last four weeks, the New Zealand Herald reported on March 2.

The Pope on Sunday also appealed to Afghanistan and Pakistan to return to dialogue after recent clashes.

FULL STORY

Pope on Iran: Peace not built with mutual threats or death-dealing arms (By  Devin Watkins/Vatican News)

Archbishop Coakley Echoes Pope Leo XIV’s Appeal for Renewed Dialogue Amid Rising Tensions in the Middle East (USCCB)

Middle East conflict live updates: Three US troops killed as region braces for new strikes after death of Khamenei (New Zealand Herald)

Pope prays for peace, dialogue between Pakistan and Afghanistan (Vatican News)