Pope Leo XIV used an 18-minute in-flight press conference to address the Iran war chaos and the regime change in Iran. He told reporters that peace must guide policy, not anger, and he urged patience. He warned that leaders often jump to violence, but that reflex multiplies suffering. He said the core issue is promoting shared values without killing innocents.
He pointed to the toll of recent strikes on Iran, and returned to the language of negotiation. He said Israel and the United States attacked too quickly, causing civilians to pay the price. He highlighted a Feb. 28 air strike that mistakenly hit an elementary school and killed about 150 children. He said families wrote to him, and their grief shaped his response.
Negotiation Chaos and Global Economic Shock
Pope Leo XIV described the chaos of the Iran war as a tangle of shifting signals between Tehran and Washington. He said one side agrees one day, but the other rejects it the next. He added that the disorder ripples through the global economy, because uncertainty drives fear. He also said millions of innocent Iranians now suffer under the war’s weight.
He noted estimates of about 3,000 killed so far, and many more wounded, in a nation of 90 million. He also questioned what “regime” even means after early attacks targeted senior leadership. He avoided endorsing regime change in Iran, and he instead pressed all parties to keep dialogue alive.
International Law and the Duty to Protect Civilians
Pope Leo XIV insisted that international law must be respected, so civilians and civilian sites remain protected. He cited hospitals, schools, and homes, saying protection has failed in many places. He shared a personal memory from Lebanon that still haunts him. He carries a photo of a Muslim child who once welcomed him, but later died in the war.
He framed his position as pastoral and practical because each casualty deepens division. He said the Church cannot favor war, and he urged answers rooted in a culture of peace.
Executions, Capital Punishment, and Competing Reactions
Asked about executions and killings of protestors, Pope Leo XIV condemned unjust actions and rejected capital punishment. He said human life must be respected, and he said regimes that take lives unjustly deserve condemnation. Supporters praised his consistent anti-war line and his focus on protecting innocents in Iran. Detractors argued he sidestepped regime change in Iran and offered moral language without hard leverage.
Asked about regime change in Iran, Pope Leo says, ‘I cannot be in favor of war.’
Photo by Steven Su on Unsplash
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