Pope Leo XIV expressed "deep hope" on Wednesday following the announcement of a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran, just hours after he had condemned American threats to destroy Iranian civilisation as "truly unacceptable."
The Chicago-born pontiff used his weekly general audience at St Peter’s Square to urge world leaders to "lay down their weapons" and embrace the Pakistani-brokered truce. The agreement, reached late Tuesday, includes a temporary reopening of the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz in exchange for a suspension of U.S. bombing campaigns.
The Pope's conciliatory tone on Wednesday marked a shift from his forceful intervention on Tuesday afternoon. Speaking from Castel Gandolfo, Leo XIV had issued a rare and direct criticism of U.S. President Donald Trump's warning that a "whole civilisation will die tonight" if Tehran missed a final negotiation deadline.
"This is truly unacceptable," the Pope told reporters on Tuesday. "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. I invite everyone to think of the innocent children and elderly who would be victims of this escalation."
The ceasefire followed intensive mediation by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. While President Trump described the pause as "a big day for world peace," Iranian officials remained cautious. Iran’s Supreme National Security Council noted that the truce "does not signify the termination of the war," asserting that safe passage through the Strait would still be subject to Iranian military coordination.
Vatican officials confirmed the Pope remains "gravely concerned" about the regional instability. During his address, Leo XIV reiterated that attacks on civilian infrastructure represent "a sign of hatred" and urged all parties to return permanently to the negotiating table. He has invited the global community to a prayer vigil for peace scheduled for Saturday at St Peter’s Basilica.