Pope Leo XIV issued a stark warning about the worsening situation in the Middle East, saying that conflicts in the region are raging with a "diabolical intensity" never seen before, and called for respect for international and humanitarian law. The Holy Father said this during a meeting with Catholic bishops and humanitarian organizations operating in the region. His words were quoted by "Reuters".
"Today, violence seems to be escalating with a diabolical intensity that we have never known before," Pope Leo XIV said, describing the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip as "tragic and inhuman". He stressed that countries in the Middle East are "ravaged by wars, plundered by private interests and covered with a cloud of hatred that makes the air poisonous and impossible to breathe".
Pope Leo XIV, who was elected on May 8 after the death of Pope Francis, is expressing his concern for the second time about what is happening in Gaza. Last month, he called on Israel to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian territories, but in his remarks today he did not name any country.
The Holy Father also did not directly mention the recent 12-day war between Israel and Iran, nor the US strikes on suspected Iranian nuclear sites, but he made clear his concern about the growing disregard for international norms:
"It is deeply disturbing to see how the principle of "might makes right" dominates so many situations, just to justify the pursuit of selfish interests," he said. "It is disturbing that the power of international law and humanitarian law no longer seems binding, replaced by the so-called right to impose itself on others."
Pope Leo concluded by calling on world leaders and organizations to return respect for law and human dignity to the center of their actions and political decisions.