Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV has welcomed the announcement of a two week ceasefire in the Middle East, describing it as a hopeful step and urging all sides to return to dialogue to end the conflict.
Speaking at the end of his General Audience in St Peter's Square on Wednesday, Pope said the ceasefire declared on April 7 was received with satisfaction and seen as a sign of deep hope after weeks of rising tensions in the region.
He stressed that lasting peace can only come through negotiations, calling on leaders to go back to the negotiating table. He also invited people around the world to support ongoing diplomatic efforts with prayer, expressing hope that dialogue could help resolve not only this conflict but others as well.
Pope also announced a Prayer Vigil for Peace to be held on April 11 at St Peter's Basilica at 6 pm Rome time. He invited the faithful to join either in person or from their homes.
The ceasefire agreement was confirmed by Iran, United States and Israel, who said they had reached a deal to pause fighting for two weeks.
Donald Trump stepped back from earlier threats of severe military action against Iran, helping to ease tensions.
Meanwhile, Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel supports the temporary halt in strikes against Iran but clarified that the ceasefire will not apply to Lebanon, where violence has continued and more than 1500 people have been killed.
The coming days are expected to test whether the pause in fighting can open the way for longer term peace efforts in the region.