Pope prays that ‘roar of bombs may cease’ across Middle East

Leo says news from region ‘continues to arouse deep dismay,’ expresses concern at ‘violence and devastation and the widespread climate of hatred and fear’

By Agencies 8 March 2026, 2:50 pm 1

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Pope Leo XIV appears at his studio's window overlooking St. Peter's Square at the Vatican for the traditional Sunday blessing of the faithful gathered for the noon Angelus prayer, March 8, 2026. (AP/Gregorio Borgia)

Pope Leo said Sunday that deeply troubling news continued to arrive from Iran and across the Middle East, urging an end to the violence and renewed efforts to open space for dialogue.

As fighting escalated on the ninth day of the US-Israeli assault on Iran, the first US pope warned that the conflict was fueling fear and hatred and raised concerns that it could spread further.

“Alongside the episodes of violence and devastation and the widespread climate of hatred and fear, there is also growing concern that the conflict could spread and that other countries in the region, including dear Lebanon, could once again sink into instability,” Leo said at the Angelus prayer in St. Peter’s Square.

“Let us raise our humble prayer to the Lord that the roar of bombs may cease, that weapons may fall silent, and that space may be opened for dialogue in which the voices of peoples can be heard.” he added.

News from the region “continues to arouse deep dismay,” the pope said at the end of the Angelus prayer.

The Vatican’s top diplomat warned on Wednesday that the US-Israeli strikes undermined international law and said nations did not have a right to launch “preventive wars,” an unusually direct criticism of the military campaign.