As tensions rise across the Middle East, a quiet but powerful message has emerged from the Vatican.
In a heartfelt video released on Thursday, Pope Leo prayed that God would guide world leaders to turn away from war — and choose peace instead.
The appeal comes as the U.S.-Israeli bombing campaign against Iran entered its sixth day, fueling fears of a wider regional conflict.
In the short but emotional message, the pope spoke directly to the conscience of those in power.
“Lord, enlighten the leaders of the nations, so they may have the courage to abandon projects of death,” Pope Leo said.
His words carried a simple yet urgent plea.
Not for victory.
Not for retaliation.
But for peace.
“Today we lift up our prayer for peace in the world, asking that nations renounce weapons and choose the path of dialogue and diplomacy,” he added.
Every month, Pope Leo releases a video announcing his prayer intention.
For March, the theme is clear and deeply relevant to the current global situation:
Disarmament and peace.
It remains unclear whether the video was recorded specifically in response to the escalating military campaign involving the United States, Israel, and Iran.
But the timing of its release could not be more striking.
The ongoing conflict has already triggered retaliatory attacks across the region. Iranian strikes have reportedly hit targets in Israel, the Gulf, and Iraq, while Israel has launched attacks in Lebanon.
The rising violence has heightened fears that the situation could spiral into a much larger war.
Even within the Vatican, concern has grown.
On Wednesday, the Vatican’s top diplomat delivered an unusually strong warning about the conflict.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s secretary of state, cautioned that the U.S.-Israeli strikes risk undermining international law.
He also criticized the idea that countries could justify launching “preventive wars.”
“If states were to be recognised as having a right to ‘preventive war’… the entire world could risk going up in flames,” Parolin said in an interview with Vatican News.
For Pope Leo, the message goes beyond politics and military strategy.
It speaks to something deeper — the human cost of war.
In his video, the pontiff urged the world to rethink what real security means.
“True security does not come from control fuelled by fear,” he said.
Instead, he reminded nations that lasting peace grows from something far stronger.
Trust.
Justice.
And solidarity among peoples.
As missiles fly and tensions rise, the pope’s words echo as a quiet but powerful challenge to the world:
Choose dialogue.
Choose diplomacy.
And above all, choose peace.
