Archbishop Coakley Calls for Peace Amid Trump's Iran Threats

Catholic leader urges President to step back from war and negotiate a just settlement.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 9:07pm

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A dimly lit church interior with a single stained glass window casting warm, diagonal light across the empty pews, evoking a sense of quiet contemplation and spiritual reflection in the face of global conflict.As tensions escalate between the U.S. and Iran, religious leaders call for diplomacy over military action.Oklahoma City Today

Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, is calling on President Donald Trump to pull back from military action against Iran and instead pursue a peaceful resolution. Coakley's statement came in response to Trump's threats to target Iranian civilian infrastructure if the country does not negotiate a deal and open the Strait of Hormuz by a set deadline.

Why it matters

The escalating tensions between the U.S. and Iran raise the specter of another potential conflict in the Middle East, with the possibility of civilian casualties and widespread destruction. As a prominent Catholic leader, Coakley's plea for peace reflects the broader desire among many to find diplomatic solutions rather than resort to military force.

The details

In his statement, Coakley emphasized Pope Leo XIV's recent appeals for peace during Holy Week and Easter. The archbishop said he was making a "special plea" to his fellow bishops, priests, and the laity to join in the pontiff's prayer vigil for peace on April 11, either virtually or in their local parishes and chapels. Coakley argued that the "threat of destroying a whole civilization and the intentional targeting of civilian infrastructure cannot be morally justified" and that "there are other ways to resolve conflict between peoples."

  • On Easter, President Trump issued a warning on Truth Social that a "whole civilization will die tonight" if Iran does not negotiate a deal and open the Strait of Hormuz.
  • On Tuesday, Trump reiterated the threat in another Truth Social post, giving an 8 p.m. deadline on April 7 for Iranian leaders to open the strait or face a dramatic escalation in U.S. attacks.
  • On Tuesday, Pope Leo XIV appealed for peace, saying threats against the population of Iran are "unacceptable."

The players

Archbishop Paul S. Coakley

The president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the head of the Catholic Church in Oklahoma City.

President Donald Trump

The current President of the United States who has issued threats of military action against Iran.

Pope Leo XIV

The current Pope who has appealed for peace and condemned threats against the Iranian population.

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What they’re saying

“I call on President Trump to step back from the precipice of war and negotiate a just settlement for the sake of peace and before more lives are lost.”

— Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, President, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

“The threat of destroying a whole civilization and the intentional targeting of civilian infrastructure cannot be morally justified. There are other ways to resolve conflict between peoples.”

— Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, President, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

“Threats against the population of Iran are unacceptable.”

— Pope Leo XIV

What’s next

The U.S. and Iran have until the 8 p.m. deadline on April 7 to reach a diplomatic resolution before the threat of further military escalation.

The takeaway

As tensions between the U.S. and Iran reach a boiling point, religious leaders like Archbishop Coakley are urging a diplomatic solution to avoid the devastating consequences of war. Their calls for peace reflect a broader desire among many to find non-violent ways to resolve international conflicts.