Pope Leo: The threat against the Iranian people is unacceptable

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Source: Vatican Media

Pope Leo XIV renewed his appeal for peace in a brief statement on Tuesday evening to a group of journalists waiting for him outside Villa Barberini, the papal residence in Castel Gandolfo.

Against the backdrop of the US-Israeli war against Iran and the US President's threat to destroy "the whole Iranian civilisation" on tonight if Tehran does not comply with a deadline set by the White House to reach a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the Pope said he wished simply to say, once again, what he had said in his Urbi et Orbi message on Sunday: "asking all people of goodwill to always search for peace and not violence, to reject war - especially a war which many people have said is unjust, which is continuing to escalate and which is not resolving anything."

He said: "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."

The Pope said: "We have a worldwide economic crisis, an energy crisis, and a situation in the Middle East of great instability, which is only provoking more hatred throughout the world."

"Come back to the table. Let's talk. Let's look for solutions in a peaceful way."

"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."

Pope Leo reiterated that "we all want to work for peace. People want peace."

He concluded: "I would invite the citizens of all the countries involved to contact the authorities - political leaders, congressmen - to ask them, to tell them, to work for peace and to reject war and violence. Thank you very much."

Watch the Pope's full statement on Vatican Youtube channel: www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0DuybnWceE