Pope Leo XIV has spoken out against Donald Trump’s war on Iran for the third time, making clear that the leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics views the ongoing military campaign as a moral catastrophe.
Speaking at the Villa Barberini in Castel Gandolfo, the first American-born pope urged world leaders to seek dialogue and find solutions without weapons, telling the congregation to “pray for peace, work for peace, less hatred”.
His latest remarks follow a powerful message posted to X the day after Trump’s “Operation Epic Fury” was launched on Iran, in which the pontiff warned that stability and peace cannot be built through threats or weapons and called the conflict a potential “tragedy of immense proportions.” He made a direct appeal to all parties to halt the spiral of violence before it becomes irreversible.
According to a source close to Pope Leo, the Pope views Trump’s strikes as immoral, illegal, and a grave threat to the entire human family. He noted that three appeals in three days is not a coincidence, writing that the Pope has decided silence is no longer an option.
This is not the first time Leo has pushed back against MAGA aggression. He and the Vatican declined Trump’s invitation to join his so-called “Board of Peace”, reaffirming that the United Nations (UN) should manage international crisis. He has also condemned Trump’s invasion of Venezuela, spoken forcefully against mass deportations, and slammed ICE for violating the religious rights of detained migrants.
Pope Leo XIV is proof that true moral leadership speaks plainly, speaks often, and never stops speaking truth to power.
