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Pope Leo XIV issued a stark warning on Sunday, cautioning that the airstrikes carried out by the United States and Israel on Iran could propel the Middle East into a catastrophic situation. He urged leaders to pause and reconsider their actions to prevent further violence.
During his address at the Angelus, the Pope shared his “deep concern” about the escalating tensions, emphasizing the importance of choosing dialogue over aggression to resolve conflicts.
“Stability and peace cannot be achieved through mutual threats or the use of weapons that bring destruction, pain, and death,” the Pope declared, as reported by Vatican News. “Only a reasonable, authentic, and responsible dialogue can pave the way for lasting peace.”
From the window of the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican on March 1, 2026, Pope Leo XIV addressed the faithful during the Angelus prayer, highlighting the severe risks of the escalating violence in the Middle East, which he described as potentially leading to an “irreparable abyss.” (REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane)
He earnestly appealed to all parties involved, urging them to embrace their moral responsibilities and halt the cycle of violence. “Faced with the possibility of a tragedy of enormous proportions,” he said, “I call upon you to prevent this spiral from turning into an irreparable abyss!”
The pope’s warning came after Israel and the U.S. launched a joint military operation against Iran on Saturday, dubbed “Operation Epic Fury.” The attacks reportedly killed several senior leaders, including Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who ruled the Islamic Republic for more than three decades.
Meanwhile, Iranian airstrikes killed at least eight Israelis on Sunday as Tehran’s latest missile barrage landed miles from Jerusalem.
The pope reinforced his warning in a two-part message posted Sunday morning on X.
TEHRAN, IRAN – FEBRUARY 28: Smoke rises over the city center after an Israeli army launches 2nd wave of airstrikes on Iran on February 28, 2026. (Photo by Fatemeh Bahrami/Anadolu via Getty Images) (Fatemeh Bahrami/Anadolu via Getty Images)
“I am following with deep concern what is happening in the Middle East and in Iran during this tumultuous time,” he wrote.
“Stability and peace are not achieved through mutual threats, nor through the use of weapons, which sow destruction, suffering, and death, but only through reasonable, sincere and responsible dialogue.”
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in the strikes. (Iranian Leader Press Office/Anadolu via Getty Images)
In a follow-up post, he warned of “the possibility of a tragedy of immense proportions” and urged all parties involved to “assume the moral responsibility of halting the spiral of violence before it becomes an unbridgeable chasm.”
“May diplomacy regain its proper role, and may the well-being of peoples, who yearn for peaceful existence founded on justice, be upheld. And let us continue to pray for peace,” he added.
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