STORY: Pope Leo on Sunday (March 22) said death and suffering caused by the war in the Middle East are a "scandal to the whole human family," renewing his plea for an immediate ceasefire.

As the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran enters its fourth week, the first U.S. pope said that he continues to follow with "dismay" the situation in the Middle East and in other regions torn apart by war and violence.

"We cannot remain silent in the face of the suffering of so many people, the defenseless victims of these conflicts. What hurts them hurts the whole of humanity," Leo said at his weekly Angelus prayer in St. Peter's Square.

More than 2,000 people have been killed during the war the U.S. and Israel launched on February 28, which has upended markets, spiked fuel costs, fueled global inflation fears and convulsed the postwar Western alliance.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: VATICAN CITY (MARCH 22, 2026) (VATICAN MEDIA - Access all)

1. POPE LEO APPEARING FROM WINDOW OF APOSTOLIC PALACE

2. PEOPLE IN ST. PETER’S SQUARE (AUDIO OF POPE SAYING IN ITALIAN: “Dear brothers and sisters: good morning”)

3. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) POPE LEO, SAYING:

“I continue to follow with dismay the situation in the Middle East, as well as in other regions of the world torn apart by war and violence. We cannot remain silent in the face of the suffering of so many people, defenseless victims of these conflicts. What wounds them wounds the whole humanity. The death and suffering caused by these wars are a scandal for the whole human family and a cry before God”.

4. PEOPLE IN SQUARE TAKING COVER UNDER UMBRELLAS

5. WOMEN LISTENING

6. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) POPE LEO, SAYING:

“I strongly renew the appeal to persevere in prayer, so that hostilities may cease and paths of peace may finally be opened, based on sincere dialogue and respect for the dignity of every human person”.

7. CLERGYMAN LISTENING TO THE POPE

8. POPE WAVING AND LEAVING

9. PEOPLE LEAVING THE SQUARE