Pope Leo XIV spoke today on the urgent need for peace when leaving Castel Gandolfo; declarations made available on Vatican News:
The Pope said he wished simply to say, once again, what he had said in his Urbi et Orbi message on Sunday, "asking all people of goodwill to always search for peace and not violence, to reject war—especially a war which many people have said is unjust, which is continuing to escalate and which is not resolving anything."
Speaking in Italian, he said, “Today, as we all know, there has also been this threat against the entire people of Iran. And this is truly unacceptable! There are certainly issues of international law here, but even more, it is a moral question concerning the good of the people as a whole, in its entirety.”
The Pope did not neglect to shine the light on the wide-reaching consequences of the conflict and said, "We have a worldwide economic crisis, an energy crisis, and a situation in the Middle East of great instability, which is only provoking more hatred throughout the world."
Thus, Pope Leo urged, "Come back to the table. Let's talk. Let's look for solutions in a peaceful way."
The Pope went on to remember all those who are being unfairly harmed in the conflict.
"Let's remember, especially, the innocent: children, the elderly, the sick, so many people who have already become, or will become, victims of this continued warfare—and to remind all that attacks on civilian infrastructure are against international law, and that they are also a sign of the hatred, division, and destruction that the human being is capable of."
The Pope reiterated that "we all want to work for peace. People want peace," as he called on all people to do their part.
"I would invite the citizens of all the countries involved," Pope Leo concluded, "to contact the authorities—political leaders, congressmen—to ask them, to tell them, to work for peace and to reject war and violence. Thank you very much."
Also today, Archbishop Coakley, of Oklahoma City, President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, made an urgent appeal:
“The threat of destroying a whole civilization and the intentional targeting of civilian infrastructure cannot be morally justified. There are other ways to resolve conflict between peoples. I call on President Trump to step back from the precipice of war and negotiate a just settlement for the sake of peace and before more lives are lost.
“After his resurrection, Jesus appeared to his disciples in Jerusalem, and his first words were ‘Peace be with you.’ As the Holy Father, in his Urbi et Orbi message on Easter reflected, the peace that ‘Jesus gives us is not a peace that merely silences the weapons, but one that touches and transforms the heart of each of us! Let us make heard the cry for peace that springs from our hearts!’
“Pope Leo has invited everyone to join him in a prayer vigil for peace on Saturday, April 11. I make a special plea to my brother bishops, the priests, the laity, and all people yearning for true peace to join the Holy Father’s Vigil for Peace, whether virtually, or in parishes, chapels, or before the Lord present in the quiet of their hearts to join with our Holy Father as we pray for peace in our world.
“Let us entrust to the Lord ‘all hearts that suffer and await the true peace that only he can give. Let us entrust ourselves to him and open our hearts to him! He is the only one who makes all things new (cf. Rev 21:5).’”
Let us join our Pope and Bishops in prayer and penitence for peace in the world.
