Iran–Israel Conflict

Pope Leo XIV used his March 1, 2026 Angelus address at the Vatican to warn that U.S.–Israeli airstrikes on Iran risk plunging the Middle East into an 'irreparable abyss,' urging all parties to halt a 'spiral of violence' before it becomes a 'tragedy of enormous proportions.' Speaking a day after the launch of Operation Epic Fury, which U.S. and Israeli officials say killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior commanders, the pope said peace cannot be built through 'mutual threats' and weapons that sow 'destruction, pain, and death,' but only through 'reasonable, authentic, and responsible dialogue.' He reinforced the message in a two‑part post on X, calling for diplomacy to 'regain its proper role' and for leaders to uphold the 'well‑being of peoples' who want a just, peaceful existence. His intervention comes as Iran continues missile barrages that have killed Israelis and as U.S. forces are heavily deployed in the region, adding a prominent moral and diplomatic challenge to the escalation at a moment when social media is filled with both celebrations and fears over Khamenei’s reported killing.