Pope Leo XIV on Saturday issued one of his strongest statements yet against the ongoing Iran conflict, urging world leaders to abandon what he described as the “madness of war” and return to dialogue and mediation.
Speaking during a prayer vigil at St. Peter’s Basilica, the first American pope criticized the use of religious language to justify violence and warned of what he called a “delusion of omnipotence that surrounds us … [which] is becoming increasingly unpredictable.”
In a direct appeal to global leaders, Leo said:
“Stop! It is time for peace! Sit at the table of dialogue and mediation, not at the table where rearmament is planned.”
The pontiff, known for his typically measured tone, has become increasingly vocal in his criticism of the six-week conflict. During Saturday’s vigil, he referenced letters from children in war-affected regions describing “horror and inhumanity,” highlighting the severe humanitarian toll of ongoing fighting.
He also drew historical parallels to the Church’s opposition to the 2003 war in Iraq, recalling the stance of Pope John Paul II shortly before the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.
“Enough of the idolatry of self and money! Enough of the display of power! Enough of war!” Leo said, raising his voice in a rare emotional appeal.
He further rejected efforts to frame military action in Christian terms, warning that “the balance within the human family has been severely destabilized. Even the holy Name of God, the God of life, is being dragged into discourses of death.”
His remarks follow earlier comments on March 30, when he said God rejects the prayers of leaders who start wars with “hands full of blood,” widely interpreted as a rebuke of U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has invoked Christian imagery in defending joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran.
Saturday’s vigil, announced during his Easter message, comes as diplomatic efforts continue, including reported talks between senior U.S. and Iranian officials in Pakistan, amid escalating tensions linked to the wider Iran conflict.