VATICAN CITY: Pope Leo has said the war in the Middle East is a “scandal to the whole human family,” renewing his call for an immediate ceasefire as civilian casualties continue to mount.
The first US-born pontiff said he continues to follow developments in the region with “dismay,” as well as conflicts in other parts of the world affected by ongoing violence and war.
In remarks delivered to the faithful, the Pope described the relentless bloodshed as a profound moral failure, insisting that the international community has a duty to intervene and halt the destruction.
“We cannot remain silent in the face of the suffering of so many people, the defenceless victims of these conflicts. What hurts them hurts the whole of humanity,” Leo said at his weekly Angelus prayer in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday.
“I strongly renew my appeal for us to persevere in prayer, so that hostilities may cease and the way may finally be paved for peace,” he added.
His appeal marks the latest in a series of interventions by the pontiff, who has consistently called for dialogue over escalation since assuming the papacy. Vatican officials said the Pope has instructed the Holy See’s diplomatic corps to intensify engagement with regional leaders and global powers in an effort to revive stalled ceasefire negotiations.
The war, now in its second year, has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions more, according to humanitarian organisations. Aid agencies have warned of a deepening catastrophe, with critical shortages of food, clean water, and medical supplies affecting vast swathes of the region.
Beyond the Middle East, Pope Leo also expressed sorrow for what he called the “forgotten crises” in Sudan, the Sahel, and other conflict-ridden areas, urging the international community not to turn a blind eye simply because media attention has faded. He emphasised that all wars, regardless of where they are fought, represent a collective failure to uphold human dignity.
“Peace is not merely the absence of bombs,” the Pope said. “It is the presence of justice, the protection of the vulnerable, and the courage to choose reconciliation over revenge.”
Middle East war at perilous stage: WHO warns
The World Health Organisation has warned the war in the Middle East has reached a “perilous stage,” with strikes reported near nuclear facilities in Iran and Israel, urging all sides to exercise maximum restraint.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said attacks on or near nuclear sites pose serious risks to public health and the environment.
“Attacks targeting nuclear sites create an escalating threat to public health and environmental safety,” he wrote on X.
He called on all parties to avoid further escalation, warning against any actions that could trigger a nuclear incident.
