Pope issues strong message over ongoing Iran war calling for 'justice'

Pope Leo issued a message asking for a ceasefire in the Middle East.

In a message published on X, the Pope said: "On behalf of the Christians of the Middle East, and of all women and men of good will, I appeal to those responsible for this conflict: ceasefire! May paths of dialogue be reopened! Violence can never lead to the justice, stability and peace for which the peoples are waiting."

The Pope Leo didn't cite the United States or Israel by name in his comments at the end of his Sunday noon blessing, AP reported.

But he mentioned the attacks that targeted a school, an apparent reference to the missile strike on an elementary school in Iran in the opening days of the war that killed over 165 people, many of them children, it was also reported.

The Pope also said he was close to the families of those who had been killed in the attacks "which have hit schools, hospitals and residential centers," and expressed particular concern about the impact of the war in Lebanon, where aid groups are warning of a humanitarian crisis, AP also reported.

Last week, Pope Leo also sent a message of peace amid the escalating US-Israeli campaign against Iran. In a social media message, he expressed "deep dismay" at the conflict in the Middle East and warned that the region "may once again sink into instability".

"Reports from #Iran and across the entire Middle East continue to cause deep dismay and raise the fear that the conflict will expand, and that other countries in the region, including dear Lebanon, may once again sink into instability. Let us pray together for the roar of bombs to cease, weapons to fall silent, and space to open for dialogue, in which people's voices may be heard," he said. His message followed came as Israel intensifies its ground invasion in Lebanon as earlier last week, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said they were "currently conducting simultaneous targeted strikes against military targets in Tehran and Beirut".

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