Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV has issued a strong appeal for peace in the Middle East, urging those responsible for the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran to halt the violence and return to dialogue.
Speaking to the faithful following the recitation of the Angelus prayer at the Vatican on Sunday, the Pope called for an immediate ceasefire, warning that continued warfare will only deepen the suffering of ordinary people.
“In the name of the Christians of the Middle East and of all men and women of goodwill, I urge: stop the fighting and reopen paths of dialogue,” the Pope said. He stressed that violence cannot bring justice, stability, or the lasting peace that the region’s people long for.
Reflecting on the devastating impact of the conflict, the Pope noted that the peoples of the Middle East have endured severe violence over the past two weeks. Thousands of innocent civilians have reportedly lost their lives, while countless families have been forced to flee their homes in search of safety.
The Holy Father expressed particular sorrow for those who have lost loved ones in attacks on civilian infrastructure, including schools, hospitals, and residential neighborhoods.
“I renew my prayerful closeness to those who mourn their loved ones and to all who continue to suffer because of the war,” he said, highlighting the tragic human cost of the escalating violence.
The Pope also voiced deep concern about the deteriorating situation in Lebanon, where the conflict has intensified in recent days.
He expressed hope that renewed dialogue would help the country’s leaders address the ongoing crisis and work toward sustainable solutions that safeguard the well-being of the Lebanese people.
“I pray that dialogue may help the authorities find lasting solutions to the grave crisis affecting the country, for the benefit of all its citizens,” he said.
As tensions spread across the region, civilians have been among the worst affected by the widening confrontation linked to Iran.
On Friday, twelve medical workers were killed when an Israeli airstrike hit a health centre in southern Lebanon. The attack drew strong condemnation from the World Health Organization, whose leadership described the deaths as “unacceptable.”
According to Lebanon’s health ministry, more than 800 people have died in Israeli airstrikes since the conflict intensified, while over 800,000 residents have been displaced from their homes.
Israeli authorities say their military operations are aimed at locations where the militant group Hezbollah allegedly stores weapons and coordinates attacks. Hezbollah began launching rockets toward northern Israel shortly after hostilities escalated, claiming support for Iran.
Meanwhile, the conflict has also taken a heavy toll inside Iran. Reports indicate that at least fifteen people were killed on Saturday in strikes targeting an industrial zone in the central province of Isfahan.
Iranian officials, along with the Iranian Red Crescent Society and several human rights organizations, estimate that between 1,230 and 1,300 civilians have been killed since the start of the joint U.S.–Israel military campaign. These figures have not yet been independently confirmed.
One of the most devastating incidents reportedly occurred on February 28, the first day of the conflict, when a missile strike destroyed a girls’ elementary school in the city of Minab. Iranian media reported that between 168 and 180 people were killed in the attack, most of them children.
The war’s ripple effects have been felt across the wider Middle East. Authorities in Saudi Arabia reported intercepting seven drones over Riyadh and the country’s Eastern Region.
Air defense systems in Dubai and Qatar were also activated on Sunday after detecting aerial threats, while Kuwait said a drone strike had damaged radar systems at its international airport.
Israel’s military reported intercepting missiles launched from Iran early Sunday morning, saying the attack targeted central parts of the country.
Amid growing instability, the United States Embassy in Baghdad issued an urgent advisory for American citizens to leave Iraq after a missile struck the embassy compound on Saturday. The embassy warned that U.S. nationals should depart the country immediately due to escalating security risks.
Against this backdrop of mounting violence and humanitarian suffering, Pope Leo XIV reiterated his appeal for peace, urging political leaders and military commanders to choose dialogue over war.
He emphasized that only sincere negotiations and mutual understanding can bring an end to the bloodshed and help restore stability to the region. The Pope concluded by calling on the international community and people of goodwill everywhere to work together in pursuit of reconciliation and peace for the Middle East.