Pope tells those who started Iran war to cease fire now

Pope Leo didn’t cite the United States or Israel by name in his comments at the end of his Sunday Angelus noon blessing on March 15. But he mentioned the attacks that targeted a school, an apparent reference to the missile strike on an elementary school in Iran in the opening days of the war that killed more than 165 people, many of them children.

“On behalf of the Christians of the Middle East and all women and men of good will, I appeal to those responsible for this conflict,” Pope Leo said.

“Cease fire so that avenues for dialogue may be reopened. Violence can never lead to the justice, stability and peace that the people are waiting for.”

US officials have said outdated intelligence likely led to the United States launching the strike on the school, and that an investigation is ongoing.

Pope Leo said he was close to the families of those who had been killed in the attacks “which have hit schools, hospitals and residential centres”. He expressed particular concern about the impact of the war in Lebanon, where aid groups are warning of a humanitarian crisis.

On March 13, in a speech to priests attending a Vatican class on the sacrament of Confession, the Pope said: “One might well ask: do those Christians who bear grave responsibility in armed conflicts have the humility and courage to make a serious examination of conscience and to go to Confession?”

Pope Leo has thus far sought to keep his messaging indirect and apolitical to avoid inflaming tensions.

FULL STORY

Pope escalates call for ceasefire in Iran by addressing those responsible for the war (By Justin McLellan/National Catholic Reporter)

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