Pope Leo XIV on Tuesday condemned President Trump's vow to destroy Iran's civilization, marking his sharpest criticism of the administration's military posture to date.
Speaking to reporters in Italian, the pontiff called the threat against Iran "truly unacceptable." He framed the dispute not merely as a question of international law, but as a fundamental moral issue affecting an entire people.
"There are certainly issues of international law here, but even more, it is a moral question concerning the good of the people as a whole, in its entirety," Leo said.
The first American-born pope has grown increasingly vocal in opposing Trump administration policies, particularly regarding Iran and immigration. Tuesday's remarks represented an escalation in tone and directness compared to his previous statements.
Calling for Peace Over Escalation
Leo appealed to "all people of goodwill" to pursue peace rather than violence. He explicitly rejected what he described as an "unjust war" that continues to intensify without resolution.
"Reject war, especially a war which many people have said is an unjust war, which is continuing to escalate and which is not resolving anything," he told reporters in English.
The pope pointed to interconnected global crises, citing widespread economic hardship and energy shortages alongside Middle Eastern instability. He argued these conditions are fueling hatred and division worldwide, underscoring the urgency of diplomatic solutions.
"Attacks on civilian infrastructure is against international law," Leo added, characterizing such strikes as evidence of destructive human capacity.
Leo urged ordinary citizens to pressure their elected representatives directly. "Citizens of all the countries involved should contact the authorities, political leaders, congressmen, to ask them, tell them to work for peace and to reject war always," he said.
The Vatican's position reflects concerns about the humanitarian toll and legal implications of escalating military actions. Leo's framing emphasizes that civilians bear the heaviest burden in armed conflict.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, a Catholic, previously responded to papal criticism by suggesting nothing was inappropriate about Trump and military officials "calling on the American people to pray for our service members." The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Tuesday's papal statement.
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