Pope Leo appealed on Sunday (June 22) to the international community to stop the war in the Middle East "before it becomes an irreparable abyss."

During the traditional weekly prayer from St. Peter's Square, the pontiff referenced "alarming news" coming from Iran, where nuclear sites were struck overnight by U.S. forces as it joined an Israeli assault on the country.

"Today more than ever, humanity cries out and pleads for peace," Leo said from the window of the papal apartments, warning about the risk of forgetting "the daily suffering of the population, especially in Gaza."

The pope then addressed the "moral responsibility" of "every member of the international community," urging that diplomacy silence weapons.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

VATICAN CITY (JUNE 22, 2025) (VATICAN MEDIA - Access all)

1. POPE LEO APPEARING AT WINDOW OF PAPAL APARTMENTS

2. PEOPLE IN ST PETER’S SQUARE

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

"Dear brothers and sisters, alarming news flows from the Middle East, especially Iran. In this dramatic scenario, which includes Israel and Palestine, the daily suffering of the population risks being forgotten, especially in Gaza and other territories where the urgency for adequate humanitarian support is becoming more and more pressing."

4. PEOPLE IN SQUARE

5. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) POPE LEO SAYING:

"Today more than ever, humanity cries out and pleads for peace. It is a cry that demands responsibility and reason, and must not be suffocated by the clang of weapons and rhetorical words that incite conflict."

6. PEOPLE IN SQUARE

7. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) POPE LEO SAYING:

"Every member of the international community has a moral responsibility: to stop the tragedy of war before it becomes an irreparable abyss. There are no distant conflicts when human dignity is at stake."

8. PEOPLE IN SQUARE

9. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) POPE LEO SAYING:

"War does not solve problems, on the contrary, it amplifies them and produces deep wounds in the history of peoples, which take generations to heal. No armed victory can compensate for the pain of mothers, the fear of children, the stolen future. May diplomacy silence weapons. May nations shape their future with works of peace, not violence and bloody conflicts."

10. PEOPLE IN SQUARE

11. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) POPE LEO SAYING:

"Thank you all and have a good Sunday."

12. PEOPLE IN SQUARE APPLAUDING