Vatican City (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – On Saturday, Pope Leo made an appeal for the authorities in Iran and Israel to strive for “peace and reconciliation.” The call came after airstrikes between the two nations killed dozens and forced civilians into shelters, with the Pope urging the countries to pursue dialogue.
Addressing the crowd at St Peter’s Basilica, the Pope voiced his concerns over the worsening conflict in the Middle East, stating that the situation between Israel and Iran has taken a significant turn for the worse. He stressed the need to build a safer world, one free from the threat of nuclear war.
How is Pope Leo urging nations to act?
One of the strongest peace appeals of Leo’s five-week papal presidency was delivered to an audience in St. Peter’s Basilica, where the pope expressed “great concern.”
“In such a delicate moment, I strongly wish to renew an appeal to responsibility and to reason,”
Said the pope.
“The commitment to building a safer world free from the nuclear threat must be pursued through respectful encounters and sincere dialogue to build a lasting peace, founded on justice, fraternity, and the common good,”
He stated.
“No one should ever threaten the existence of another,”
Said Leo.
“It is the duty of all countries to support the cause of peace, initiating paths of reconciliation and promoting solutions that guarantee security and dignity for all.”
How has Pope Leo differed from Pope Francis?
Leo, the first American pope, was elected on May 8 to succeed the late Pope Francis. Leo is more careful with wording and nearly always talks from a written text, in contrast to Francis, who frequently talks spontaneously at public gatherings. On Saturday, the pope read aloud his request in Italian on a piece of paper.
What triggered the recent Iran-Israel escalation?
Targeting commanders, military targets, and nuclear installations, Israel conducted a massive attack on Iran early Friday in what it described as a “preemptive strike” to stop Iran from advancing its nuclear weapons development. Iran launched rounds of missiles into Israel in retaliation, killing at least two people and wounding scores more. Iran insists that its uranium enrichment operations are part of a covert weapons program.
