Pope calls for peace and dialogue in Iran, Syria, and Ukraine
Pope Leo XIV has called for dialogue and peace in the Middle East, focusing on the ongoing unrest in Iran and Syria. During his weekly Angelus prayer, he expressed concern for those killed in Iranian protests and the conflict in Syria. The Pope also prayed for the people of Ukraine, highlighting the suffering caused by Russian strikes on energy infrastructure. He urged an end to violence and greater efforts towards peace.
What we know
- Pope Leo XIV offered prayers for victims of protests in Iran and conflict in Syria during his weekly Angelus prayer on Sunday.
- He expressed hope for the "patient cultivation of dialogue and peace for the common good of society as a whole."
- The Pope also prayed for Ukraine following "particularly serious" Russian strikes on energy infrastructure, which have worsened as cold weather sets in.
- Iran has seen widespread anti-government protests that erupted in late December 2025, with security forces responding with force and resulting in hundreds of deaths.
- In Syria, after the fall of the Assad regime in late 2024, violence and instability persisted in 2025, with over 3,600 documented deaths throughout the year and continued hardship into the winter of 2026 due to Russian attacks in Ukraine.
