Addressing journalists in Castel Gandolfo, Pope Leo XIV asks “all people of goodwill to always search for peace and to reject war,” calls for a return to the negotiating table to pursue peaceful solutions, and notes that attacks on civilian infrastructure are against international law.

By Deborah Castellano Lubov

“Search always for peace and reject war.”

Pope Leo XIV renewed that appeal for peace in a brief statement on Tuesday evening to a group of journalists waiting for him outside Villa Barberini, the papal residence in Castel Gandolfo.

Against the backdrop of the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran and the U.S. President’s threat to destroy “the whole Iranian civilisation” on Tuesday night if Tehran does not comply with a deadline set by the White House to reach a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the Pope said he wished simply to say, once again, what he had said in his Urbi et Orbi message on Sunday, “asking all people of goodwill to always search for peace and not violence, to reject war—especially a war which many people have said is unjust, which is continuing to escalate and which is not resolving anything.”

Speaking in Italian, he said, “Today, as we all know, there has also been this threat against the entire people of Iran. And this is truly unacceptable! 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, in its entirety.”

The Pope did not neglect to shine the light on the wide-reaching consequences of the conflict and said, “We have a worldwide economic crisis, an energy crisis, and a situation in the Middle East of great instability, which is only provoking more hatred throughout the world.”

Thus, Pope Leo urged, “Come back to the table. Let’s talk. Let’s look for solutions in a peaceful way.”

The Pope went on to remember all those who are being unfairly harmed in the conflict.

“Let’s remember, especially, the innocent: children, the elderly, the sick, so many people who have already become, or will become, victims of this continued warfare—and to remind all that attacks on civilian infrastructure are against international law, and that they are also a sign of the hatred, division, and destruction that the human being is capable of.”

The Pope reiterated that “we all want to work for peace. People want peace,” as he called on all people to do their part.

“I would invite the citizens of all the countries involved,” Pope Leo concluded, “to contact the authorities—political leaders, congressmen—to ask them, to tell them, to work for peace and to reject war and violence. Thank you very much.”