Pope Leo Faults US, Iran for Prolonging War

Pope Leo is expressing growing frustration with what he sees as a dangerous deadlock in the Iran conflict, saying efforts to restore diplomacy have stalled while the human toll rises. Speaking with reporters aboard his return flight to Rome after an 11-day visit to Africa, he faulted both the United States and Iran for failing to move negotiations forward. He described a pattern where one side signals willingness while the other refuses, creating instability that has shaken global markets and left conditions in disarray.

He pointed to the heavy civilian cost of the conflict, noting that many innocent lives have been lost. The pope also drew attention to the hardships faced by ordinary Iranians, especially as competing blockades have effectively restricted access through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global oil shipments.

Leo also condemned reports that Iran has carried out executions of political opponents, reiterating his long-standing opposition to capital punishment and to any government that unjustly takes lives. At the same time, he emphasized his broader stance against war, saying that as a religious leader he cannot support violence under any circumstances. He reflected on the suffering caused by conflict, including the death of a child in an Israeli strike on Lebanon, whose image he said he carries as a reminder.

His remarks come during a public disagreement with President Trump over the situation. Trump recently stated that the United States has full control over the Strait of Hormuz and criticized Iran’s leadership as fractured, a claim disputed by Iran’s foreign minister.

While Leo appeared to ease tensions slightly by acknowledging that nations have the right to enforce their borders, he also urged wealthier countries to confront the deeper causes of migration. He stressed that migrants deserve humane treatment and should not be regarded as less valuable than animals.

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