Pope Leo XIV Warns Iran Conflict Could Spread Across Middle East

By chisom adeaze

The head of the Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV, has expressed deep concern over the escalating conflict involving Iran, warning that the violence risks spreading further across the Middle East and destabilising more countries in the region.

Speaking during the traditional Angelus prayer at St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, the pontiff said troubling reports continued to emerge as the conflict entered its ninth day following coordinated military strikes by the United States and Israel on Iranian targets.

The Pope warned that the ongoing violence was intensifying fear and hatred across the region and could draw additional countries into the conflict if urgent diplomatic efforts were not made.

“Alongside the episodes of violence and devastation and the widespread climate of hatred and fear, there is also growing concern that the conflict could spread and that other countries in the region, including dear Lebanon, could once again sink into instability,” he said.

Call for Dialogue and Peace

The pontiff called on world leaders to urgently pursue dialogue and peaceful negotiations to prevent the situation from deteriorating further.

“Let us raise our humble prayer to the Lord that the roar of bombs may cease, that weapons may fall silent, and that space may be opened for dialogue in which the voices of peoples can be heard,” Pope Leo XIV said.

His remarks come amid growing international alarm over the expanding military campaign and fears that the confrontation could trigger a wider regional war.

Earlier in the week, the Holy See also voiced strong concern through its top diplomat, warning that continued airstrikes and military escalation risk undermining international law and worsening humanitarian conditions in the region.

Decades of Hostility

The confrontation between Israel and Iran is rooted in decades of political, ideological and strategic rivalry.

Prior to the Iranian Revolution, Iran maintained relatively cooperative relations with Israel. However, the establishment of the Islamic Republic transformed that relationship into one of open hostility.

Iran’s leadership has consistently criticised Israel and provided support to armed groups opposed to it, including Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza.

Israel, meanwhile, considers Iran’s nuclear ambitions and expanding regional influence a serious threat to its national security and has carried out a range of military, covert and cyber operations aimed at limiting Tehran’s capabilities.

Escalation of the Current Conflict

The latest escalation began when Israel and the United States launched coordinated airstrikes against Iranian military and government targets.

The operation reportedly resulted in the killing of Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader, a development that significantly heightened tensions and pushed the region closer to a broader confrontation.

In response, Iran launched missile and drone strikes targeting Israeli territory and U.S. military bases across the region. The conflict has since spilled beyond the immediate combat zones, with allied groups and neighbouring states becoming increasingly involved.

Global leaders and humanitarian organisations have urged restraint, warning that further escalation could have devastating consequences for millions of people across the Middle East.