BREAKING Pope Leo XIV says Trump's "threat against" Iran is "unacceptable" Urges People to Contact Authorities to Say "we don't want war, we want peace!" and to Pray for Peace
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Pope Leo XIV: "Threat Against the Iranian People is Unacceptable"
Vatican News | April 7, 2026
In a direct address from his residence at Castel Gandolfo, Pope Leo XIV issued a stark appeal for peace tonight, responding to the escalating tensions between the United States and Iran. Reacting to President Donald Trump’s ultimatum regarding the Strait of Hormuz—which threatened total destruction overnight—the Pontiff condemned the rhetoric as a violation of both legal and moral boundaries.
A Plea for De-escalation
Speaking to journalists in both Italian and English, the Holy Father expressed grave concern for the civilians caught in the crosshairs of a potential conflict.
He specifically addressed the current threats of total war:
“Today, as we all know, there has also been this threat against the entire people of Iran. And this is truly unacceptable! 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.”
Thus, Pope Leo urged, "Come back to the table. Let's talk. Let's look for solutions in a peaceful way."
The Pope urged citizens and lawmakers alike to intervene, specifically calling on members of the U.S. Congress to exercise their influence to halt the march toward war. He emphasized that the consequences of such an escalation would be borne by the most vulnerable:
"Let's remember, especially, the innocent: children, the elderly, the sick, so many people who have already become, or will become, victims of this continued warfare—and to remind all that attacks on civilian infrastructure are against international law, and that they are also a sign of the hatred, division, and destruction that the human being is capable of."The Moral and Legal Crisis - Trump posted on Truth Social on April 7th "A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don't want that to happen but it probably will...." (see the image below for the full quote)
Echoing his Urbi et Orbi message from Easter Sunday (April 5), Leo XIV reminded the global community that the targeting of non-combatants and essential services is a transgression against humanity itself.
International Law: The Pope noted that the current trajectory violates established global norms.
The Moral Question: Beyond politics, he framed the situation as a test of human conscience.
Destructive Hatred: He warned that the path of violence reveals the worst of the human spirit.
"All attacks on civilian infrastructure," he stated, "are against international law, but they are also a sign of the hatred, division, and destruction of which human beings are capable."
A Call to Action: The Peace Vigil
Reiterating his Easter Sunday plea for those with the power to unleash war to instead choose dialogue, the Pope invited the faithful and "all people of good will" to join him in prayer and active communication with their leaders.
"I would like to invite everyone to pray, but also to seek ways to communicate—perhaps with the 'congressmen', with the authorities—to say that we don't want war, we want peace! We are a people who love peace. There is so much need for peace in the world!"
In a final appeal, the Pope invited the world to reject what many have termed an "unjust war," confirming that a peace vigil will be held at St. Peter's on April 11th. He concluded by reminding the global public that violence "solves nothing" and only serves to deepen the instability currently sweeping the Middle East and the world at large."Search always for peace and reject war."
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