After praying the Angelus with visitors gathered in St. Peter’s Square on March 1, Pope Leo

XIV spoke about his growing concern about what is unfolding in the Middle East and Iran. He

called on leaders to assume their moral duty “To stop the spiral of violence before it becomes an

irreparable abyss.”

Following is the English translation of the Holy Father’s appeal in Italian:

Dear brothers and sisters!

I am following with deep concern what is happening in the Middle East and in Iran during

this tumultuous time. Stability and peace are not achieved through mutual threats, nor through

the use of weapons, which sow destruction, suffering, and death, but only through reasonable,

sincere, and responsible dialogue.

Faced with the possibility of a tragedy of immense proportions, I make a heartfelt appeal

to all the parties involved to assume the moral responsibility of halting the spiral of violence

before it becomes an unbridgeable chasm. May diplomacy regain its proper role, and may the

well-being of peoples, who yearn for peaceful existence founded on justice, be upheld. And let

us continue to pray for peace.

In these days, troubling news has also arrived of clashes between Pakistan and

Afghanistan. I urgently appeal for a return to dialogue. Let us pray together that harmony may

prevail in all conflicts throughout the world. Only peace, a gift of God, can heal the wounds

between peoples.

Full text of the pope’s Angelus address and remarks: