Pope Leo appeals for ‘reason' amid Israel–Iran airstrikes, calls for dialogue
Pope Leo appealed on Saturday for authorities in Iran and Israel to act with 'reason' after recent airstrikes and to pursue dialogue.
He told an audience in St. Peter's Basilica he was following the situation with '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 said.
'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.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Leaders
an hour ago
- Leaders
Britain Could Possibly Support Israel Against Iran: Finance Minister
British Finance Minister Rachel Reeves said on Sunday that Britain could potentially support Israel in its war with Iran that started on Friday, June 13, according to Reuters. Reeves noted that Britain's decision to send additional military jets to the Middle East was mainly driven by its intension to protect British bases and personnel. 'We have, in the past, supported Israel when there have been missiles coming in,' she added. Reeves also stated that they are sending in assets to safeguard their interests and support their allies. In 2024, Britain protected Israel from missile attacks from Iran. The British government also shot down Iranian drones heading for Israel in April. Moreover, it indicated that two of its fighter jets and an air-to-air refueling tanker participated in intercepting Iranian missiles in October. On June 13, Israel launched a wave of airstrikes on Iran under the name of Operation Rising Lion. The military campaign targeted Iran's nuclear facilities and killed top military commanders and nuclear scientists. As a response, Iran launched a retaliatory wave of missiles against Israel and targeted Tel Aviv. Israel also killed three more Iranian nuclear scientists, raising the total number of scientists slain to nine, according to Gulf News. Currently, both countries are trading missiles and attacks amid intensifying efforts to halt the conflict. Related Topics: EU Powers Offer Immediate Talks with Iran to De-escalate Tensions Putin, Trump Discuss Iran-Israel Conflict Pakistan Supports Iran, Urges Muslim World to Unite, Defy Israel Short link : Post Views: 11
Leaders
an hour ago
- Leaders
Trump Hints at US Involvement in Iran-Israel Conflict
President Donald Trump has indicated that the United States might engage in the escalating Iran-Israel conflict. During an interview with ABC News, he expressed openness to Russian President Vladimir Putin acting as a mediator. This statement comes as tensions rise in the Middle East, with both nations exchanging heavy aerial assaults. Ongoing Nuclear Talks and Potential Mediation According to Trump, discussions regarding Iran's nuclear program continue. He noted that Tehran appears eager to negotiate a deal, especially following recent military exchanges with Israel. 'It's possible we could get involved,' Trump stated during an off-camera interview with ABC News senior political correspondent Rachel Scott. He emphasized that the United States is 'not at this moment' participating in military actions. Trump confirmed that Putin is prepared to mediate the conflict. 'He is ready. He called me about it. We had a long talk about it,' Trump explained. This potential mediation could play a crucial role in de-escalating tensions between the two nations. Escalating Violence and Diplomatic Efforts On Sunday, Israel and Iran engaged in heavy aerial assaults for the third consecutive day. Casualties have increased significantly as Israel launched large-scale attacks targeting Iran's nuclear and military infrastructure. These actions have prompted retaliatory strikes from Iran, further complicating the situation. Oman, which has previously mediated discussions on the nuclear issue, announced the cancellation of a sixth round of talks between Iran and the United States. Despite this setback, Trump reassured that discussions between the two sides are ongoing. 'No, there's no deadline' on negotiations, he stated when asked about a time limit for Tehran to engage. Trump emphasized that both parties are actively communicating. 'They'd like to make a deal. They're talking. They continue to talk,' he remarked. He suggested that the recent clashes between Israel and Iran might have accelerated the urgency for a nuclear agreement. 'It may have forced a deal to go quicker, actually,' Trump concluded. As the situation develops, the international community watches closely, hoping for a peaceful resolution to the Iran-Israel conflict. Short link : Post Views: 1
Leaders
an hour ago
- Leaders
Iran Denies Sending Messages to Israel through Cyprus
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei announced that Iran did not send any messages to Israel via a third country, according to Arab News. The announcement was a response to Cyprus's statement that Tehran has asked the Cypriot government to convey 'some messages' to Israel. On Sunday, Cyprus stressed the need for restraint during a rapidly escalating crisis between Israel and Iran and mounting tensions in the Middle East. President Nikos Christodoulides spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and also communicated with the leaders of Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Greece. Christodoulides told journalists that Iran had asked Cyprus to convey 'some messages' to Israel. However, he did not mention who specifically sent those messages or what they said. Meanwhile, Cyprus urged the EU Foreign Affairs Council to hold an extraordinary meeting. 'It is not possible for the EU to claim a geopolitical role, to see all these developments and for there not to be at the very least a convening of the Council of Foreign Ministers,' Christodoulides told journalists. On June 13, Israel launched a wave of airstrikes on Iran under the name of Operation Rising Lion. The military campaign targeted Iran's nuclear facilities and killed top military commanders and nuclear scientists. As a response, Iran launched a retaliatory wave of missiles against Israel and targeted Tel Aviv. Israel also killed three more Iranian nuclear scientists, raising the total number of scientists slain to nine, according to Gulf News. Currently, both countries are trading missiles and attacks amid intensifying efforts to halt the conflict. Related Topics: Britain Could Possibly Support Israel Against Iran: Finance Minister EU Powers Offer Immediate Talks with Iran to De-escalate Tensions Putin, Trump Discuss Iran-Israel Conflict Short link : Post Views: 41
