Donald Trump threatened to wipe out “a whole civilization” before the ceasefire between the U.S and Iran was reached Tuesday evening. It made Pope Leo XIV furious, prompting him to issue a grim statement about the U.S. President.
The war in Iran had been ongoing for more than a month before the diplomatic progress on Tuesday night. The U.S. and Iran finally came to their senses, reaching a deal for a two-week ceasefire shortly before Trump’s deadline.
Afterward, both countries proclaimed victory. President Trump shared that he had agreed to a ceasefire, but only as Iran now commits to reopening the Strait of Hormuz. He described Iran’s 10-point proposal as “a workable basis for negotiations.”
Further, the president said a final agreement is expected within the next two weeks. He also branded the ceasefire a “total and complete victory” and noted that the United States would assist in easing the traffic buildup in the Strait of Hormuz.
The day before, President Trump had threatened to end the Iranian civilization in a post on Truth Social. It got the world’s attention, and fears for an escalation, and even nuclear war, rose.
“A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again,” Donald Trump wrote. “I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will. However, now that we have Complete and Total Regime Change, where different, smarter, and less radicalized minds prevail, maybe something revolutionarily wonderful can happen, WHO KNOWS?”
Pope Leo breaks the silence on Donald Trump’s latest Iran threat
U.S politicians, both Democrats and Republicans, former MAGA supporters such as Marjorie Taylor Greene and influencer Alex Jones, alongside other world leaders such as Nigel Farage and former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, all spoke out against Donald Trump.
In fact, that also included the leader of the Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV. On Tuesday, before the ceasefire deal was reached, the Pope condemned Donald Trump’s threat to strike Iranian civilian structures. He urges leaders to find a peaceful solution.
“I would simply say, once again, what I said in the ‘Urbi et Orbi’ message on Sunday: asking all people of goodwill to search, always, for peace and not violence; to reject war, especially a war which many people have said is an unjust war, which is continuing to escalate and which is not resolving anything,” Pope Leo said as he left his house in Castel Gandolfo, per Politico.
The U.S-born pope continued that the situation in the Middle East is “only provoking more hatred,” urging leaders to “come back to the table” to find a peaceful solution.
“Tell them to work for peace”
Further, Pope Leo reminded Donald Trump that striking civilian infrastructure is against international law.
“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,” Pope Leo continued, calling on citizens of all countries to contact their political leaders and “tell them to work for peace and to reject war.”
Donald Trump has not addressed Pope Leo’s comments.
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