LAGOS, Nigeria(VOICE OF NAIJA)- Head of the Catholic Church, Pope Leo has welcomed a temporary ceasefire in the Iran conflict, calling for urgent negotiations, while sharply criticizing Donald Trump over a controversial threat directed at Iran.
Speaking during his weekly audience on Wednesday, the pope said the two-week pause in fighting offers a critical chance to pursue peace through dialogue.
“In light of these past hours of great tension for the Middle East and for the whole world, I welcome with satisfaction, the announcement of an immediate two-week truce,” Leo said.
He stressed that lasting peace cannot come through force, urging all sides to remain at the table.
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“Only through a return to negotiation can an end to the war be achieved,” he added.
Earlier, the pope had strongly condemned remarks made by U.S. President Donald Trump, who warned Iran that “a whole civilisation will die tonight” if it failed to meet American demands for a truce. Reacting to that statement, Leo described the threat as “truly unacceptable.”
The pope has become increasingly vocal about the conflict in recent weeks, different from his usually cautious tone on global politics. Observers note that it is uncommon for the leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics to directly respond to a sitting president.
With his stance, the Pope highlights growing concern within the Vatican over rising tensions in the Middle East and the potential global impact of the conflict.
