Pope Leo XIV renewed his appeal for peace in the Middle East on Sunday, calling for an end to the war and the reopening of dialogue. “Dear brothers and sisters, for two weeks the peoples of the Middle East have suffered the atrocious violence of war,” the US pontiff said at his weekly Angelus prayer at the Vatican. “Thousands of innocent people have been killed, and countless others have been forced to flee their homes. “On behalf of the Christians of the Middle East and of all women and men of goodwill, I address those responsible for this conflict,” he said in Italian. “Violence can never lead to the justice, stability, and peace that people await,” he said.

Source: Punch March 15, 2026 12:53 UTC