Pope Leo Decries "Spiral of Violence," Urges Diplomacy to Stave Off Tragedy

The pontiff calls on leaders to assume "moral responsibility" to stop escalating Mideast conflict.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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Pope Leo XIV delivered an urgent appeal for peace Sunday as war escalated across the Mideast and Iran, calling on leaders to live up to their 'moral responsibility' to pursue diplomacy to stave off 'a tragedy of enormous proportions.' The pope did not refer to specific countries or world leaders, but said 'stability and peace cannot be built with mutual threats or with weapons that sow destruction, pain and death, but only through reasonable, authentic and responsible dialogue.'

Why it matters

The pope's comments come as the U.S. and Israel have launched strikes across Iran, killing top officials and sparking a widening conflict in the region. Catholic and other faith leaders have condemned the violence and called for diplomacy, while some conservative Catholics have supported the strikes under 'just war theory' - a view the pope has rejected.

The details

The strikes on Iran, which continued Sunday, have killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other high-ranking officials. The Iranian Red Crescent Society said the attacks had left at least 200 Iranians dead, including more than 140 schoolgirls. The U.S. reported its first casualties of 'Operation Epic Fury' — three service members killed and five others seriously wounded. Fighting intensified and widened Sunday as Iran struck targets in Israel, killing at least 10 people there, and in Gulf countries.

  • On Saturday, the U.S. and Israel launched strikes across Iran.
  • On Sunday, the strikes on Iran continued.

The players

Pope Leo XIV

The leader of the 1.4 billion-member Catholic Church who has made calls for diplomacy to foster peace a hallmark of his papacy.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

The Supreme Leader of Iran who was killed in the U.S. and Israeli strikes.

Donald J. Trump

The former U.S. president who celebrated Khamenei's death and vowed 'America will avenge' U.S. casualties.

Paul S. Coakley

The Archbishop of Oklahoma City and president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops who echoed the pope's call for diplomacy.

Austen Ivereigh

A Catholic scholar, journalist and author who rebuked conservative Catholics supporting the strikes under 'just war theory.'

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What they’re saying

“Stability and peace cannot be built with mutual threats or with weapons that sow destruction, pain and death, but only through reasonable, authentic and responsible dialogue.”

— Pope Leo XIV, Pope (The Catholic Observer)

“My brother bishops and I unite our voice with our Holy Father and make the heartfelt appeal to all parties involved for diplomacy to regain its proper role. All nations, international bodies, and partners committed to peace must exert every effort to prevent further escalation.”

— Paul S. Coakley, Archbishop of Oklahoma City, President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (The Catholic Observer)

“The 2003 invasion of Iraq was infamously justified by prominent US Catholics bending just war doctrine. Pope Francis in Fratelli Tutti made clear that 'preventive war' cannot ever be justified. The US-Israeli assault on Iran has no legal foundation and is clearly immoral.”

— Austen Ivereigh, Catholic scholar, journalist and author (Twitter)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.