Pope Leo XIV Urges President Trump to Find Diplomatic Way Out of Conflict in Iran

JAKARTA - The leader of the Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV, urged the President of the United States Donald Trump to find a diplomatic solution to the escalating Iran conflict, as the number of casualties throughout the region increased.

"I was told that President Trump recently stated that he wanted to end the war. Hopefully he is looking for a way out. Hopefully he is looking for ways to reduce violence," the Pope told reporters outside his residence in Castel Gandolfo near Rome, Italy, launching Anadolu (1/4).

The comments marked an unusual direct intervention by Pope Leo, who has stepped up criticism of the conflict that erupted after a US-Israeli joint air strike against Iran.

Pope Leo also voiced concern over the increasing number of civilian casualties and called for an immediate cessation of escalation before Easter on April 5.

"There are so many deaths, including innocent children," Pope Leo said.

"Let's continue to call for peace. Too many people are promoting fights, violence (and) war," he said.

Earlier, Pope Leo on Sunday said God rejected the prayers of leaders who waged war and had "bloodstained hands."

It is known that the United States and Israel launched an attack on Iran on February 28, killing more than 1,340 people, including the late Supreme Leader of Iran Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, triggering tensions in the Middle East.

In response, the State of the Mullahs retaliated with drone strikes and missiles targeting Israel, along with Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf states hosting US military assets, causing casualties and infrastructure damage and disrupting global markets and flights, including tight control of the vital Strait of Hormuz through which 20 percent of the world's crude oil and liquefied natural gas pass.