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Hours before President Donald Trump announced a two-week delay in attacking Iran, Pope Leo issued a rare and direct criticism, denouncing Trump’s threat Tuesday morning against the country as “absolutely unacceptable.”
Speaking to reporters outside his home in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, the leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics spoke out against the raging war and called for an immediate end to the conflict.
“Today, as we all know, there has been this threat against all the people of Iran, and this is absolutely unacceptable,” the pope said. “Of course there are issues of international law here, but more so it’s a moral issue for the benefit of the entire population.”
These words seem to refer to one of Trump’s previous posts on Public Truth, where he wrote, “All civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back. I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will … God Bless the Great People of Iran!”
TRUMP VOWS TO SHUT OFF IRAN’S POWER PLANTS, BRIDGES IF STRAIT OF HORMUZ IS NOT REOPENED
Pope Leo XIV speaks to the media about the US-Israel conflict with Iran, as he leaves the papal residence to return to the Vatican, in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, April 7, 2026. (Guglielmo Mangiapane/Reuters)
Trump later said that, based on discussions with Pakistani leaders, he would delay the “bombing and attack on Iran” for two weeks.
The postponement is subject to Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to “FULL, QUICK, AND SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz,” the president wrote in a Truth Social post.
He added that the administration had received a 10-point proposal from Iran, and officials “believe it is a viable basis for negotiation.”
President Donald Trump shared a serious threat against Iran on social media Tuesday morning. (@realDonaldTrump via Truth Social)
Pope Leo warned that attacks on civilian infrastructure are “against international law” and “a sign of hatred, division.” [and] destruction that no one can do.”
The pontiff went on to describe the conflict as a war that many called “unfair” and “resolved nothing.”
“In fact, we have a global economic crisis, an energy crisis situation in the Middle East of great instability, which is fueling more hatred around the world,” he said. “Come back to the table. Let’s talk and look for solutions in a peaceful way.”
The Pope also took the unusual step of asking everyday citizens to “contact the authorities – political leaders, congressmen – to ask them to work for peace and always reject war.”
Pope Leo condemned President Trump’s threats against Iran as morally unacceptable and called for an immediate end to the war. Hours later, Trump delayed the planned strikes, announcing a two-week conditional ceasefire to allow for negotiations. (ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Conflict between the ruler of the Vatican City State and world leaders is very rare, although the pope made his first direct appeal to Trump last week, urging him to find an “off-ramp” to end the war with Iran, according to a Reuters report.
On Tuesday, Pope Leo called for the protection of the innocent, urging the world to remember “the children, the elderly, the sick,” who he said “have already become, or will become, victims of this ongoing war.”
