Pope Leo XIV Criticizes U.S. Strikes on Iran That Began in Late February

Pope Leo XIV criticized U.S. military strikes on Iran that began in late February, Newsweek reported. The pope stated on the day of a U.S. deadline that there was a threat against all the people of Iran.

U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See Brian Burch said in an interview with The New York Times that the pope’s comments were made as the political leader of the Vatican rather than as the leader of the Catholic Church. Burch added that the pope cannot judge whether the Iran war is just or unjust because he only has access to a set of limited facts.

When the pope acts as the sovereign leader of the Holy See, he is co-equal with world leaders, Burch said. Andrea Tornielli, editorial director for the Vatican's Dicastery for Communication, wrote in an editorial published in Vatican News on Monday that even when the pope speaks about war and peace, he remains above all a spiritual leader.

Tornielli said the pope is proclaiming the Gospel when he speaks on issues including calling for an end to the mad arms race—even going beyond the concept of a just war.

It is true that the pope is a religious leader and that the pope speaks as a religious leader to political and social issues, Tornielli wrote. The relationship between Pope Leo XIV and President Trump took a turn in April after Trump’s remarks that a whole civilization will die tonight if Iran failed to meet a U.S. deadline tied to the war.

The Vatican has noted that the Catholic Church has long opposed nuclear weapons. The United States is home to tens of millions of Catholics, many of whom voted for Trump. Newsweek reached out to the U.S.

Embassy to the Holy See for comment via email.