Pope Leo XIV delivered his most forceful condemnation of the US-Israeli military campaign in Iran, denouncing what he called a "delusion of omnipotence" driving the conflict as American and Iranian negotiators began face-to-face talks in Pakistan.
The Chicago-born pontiff presided over an evening prayer service at St. Peter's Basilica on Saturday, where he demanded political leaders abandon military solutions and pursue negotiated peace. His remarks came as a fragile ceasefire held between the warring parties.
Enough of the idolatry of self and money! Enough of the display of power! Enough of war!
Pope Leo XIV — South China Morning Post
While Leo did not explicitly name the United States or President Donald Trump in his prepared prayer, his tone and message appeared directed at American officials who have publicly celebrated military superiority and framed the conflict in religious terms. The timing of his remarks, coinciding with the opening of diplomatic talks, underscored the Vatican's push for peaceful resolution.
The basilica's diplomatic section reflected the global stakes of the conflict. Tehran's archbishop, Belgian Cardinal Dominique Joseph Mathieu, occupied a prominent pew, while the United States was represented by Deputy Chief of Mission Laura Hochla.
NPR frames the story through the lens of papal evolution, emphasizing Leo's journey from restraint to criticism. Their coverage focuses on the domestic significance of an American-born pope challenging US policy, presenting this as a notable diplomatic development rather than taking sides on the conflict itself.