Pope Says He 'Cannot Support War,' Citing Rising Toll on Innocent Lives
Pope Says He 'Cannot Support War,' Citing Rising Toll on Innocent Lives
M.U.H
24/04/202616
TEHRAN: Pope Leo XIV said Thursday that he "cannot be in favor of war," warning that conflicts around the world are claiming the lives of too many innocent people, including children.
"As a pastor, I cannot be in favor of war. And I would like to encourage everyone to make efforts to seek answers that come from a culture of peace, not hatred and division," he told journalists on his return flight from a four-nation tour of Africa, Vatican News reported.
Referring to escalating tensions from the US-Israeli war of aggression against Iran, Leo XIV said civilians are bearing the brunt of the violence, Anadolu Agency reported.
"The issue is not whether there is regime change or not; the issue is how to promote the values we believe in without the death of so many innocent people," he said.
The pontiff described the situation surrounding the US-Israeli war on Iran as "complex" and warned that uncertainty and escalation are also affecting the global economy, while ordinary people continue to suffer.
Leo urged all parties involved in conflicts to prioritize dialogue and diplomacy, calling for renewed efforts to avoid further escalation and to respect international law.
