By Devin Watkins

“Alarming news continues to reach the Middle East, especially from Iran,” Pope Leo said on Sunday at Angelus.

The words of the Holy Father came just hours after the American attackers hit the nuclear places in Iran, as Israel and Iran were strikes in each other’s territory.

“In this dramatic scenario, which includes Israel and Palestine,” Pope continued, “daily population suffering – especially in Gaza and other territories – the risk of being forgotten, even as the need for adequate humanitarian assistance becomes increasingly urgent.”

“Today more than ever, humanity screams and prays for peace,” he said.

The Pope said that the cries of peace “requires responsibility and reason and should not be drowned by the noise of weapons or with rhetorical words that promote conflict.”

Pope Leo urged every member of the international community to assume their moral responsibility to “prohibit the tragedy of war before becoming an irreparable abyss”.

When human dignity is in question, he said, no conflict is distant.

“War does not solve problems,” Pope noted. “On the contrary, it strengthens them and causes deep wounds in the history of peoples – lines that take generations to heal. No military victory can ever compensate for the pain of a mother, fear of a child or a stolen future.”

In conclusion, Pope Leo XIV expressed his hope for the weapons to be silent.

“Let the diplomacy silence the weapons!” He said. “Let the nations form their future with deeds of peace, not through violence and bloody conflicts!”