Pope condemns Trump’s threat to destroy Iranian civilisation

Pope Leo XIV has said that President Donald Trump’s threat to destroy Iranian civilisation is “truly unacceptable”, and said any attacks on civilian infrastructure violate international law.

In some of his strongest comments yet against the war, Leo urged Americans and other people of good will to contact their political leaders and congressional representatives to demand they reject war and work for peace.

“Today as we all know there was this threat against all the people of Iran. This is truly unacceptable,” he said.

Leo spoke to reporters as he left his country house in Castel Gandolfo, south of Rome.

He referred to Mr Trump’s threat that a “whole civilisation will die tonight” if Iran fails to meet his latest deadline to strike a deal that includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

Leo recalled his Easter appeal for peace and to reject war “especially a war which many people have said is an unjust war, which is continuing to escalate, and which is not resolving anything”.

He invited all people of good will to contact their political leaders and congressional representatives to remind them that attacks on civilian infrastructure are “against international law” and also are a “sign of the hatred, the division, the destruction human beings are capable of, and we all want to work for peace”.