By Joshua McElwee VATICAN CITY, March 5 (Reuters) - Pope Leo released a video on Thursday praying that God would help world leaders renounce war as a means of resolving conflicts in an unusual appeal
Pope Leo Appeals for World Leaders to Renounce War Amid Ongoing Iran Conflict
Pope Leo’s Call for Peace During the Iran Conflict
By Joshua McElwee
Pope Leo’s Video Message for Peace
VATICAN CITY, March 5 (Reuters) - Pope Leo released a video on Thursday praying that God would help world leaders renounce war as a means of resolving conflicts in an unusual appeal as the U.S.-Israeli bombing campaign against Iran pressed on for the sixth day.
Key Excerpts from the Pope’s Appeal
"Lord, enlighten the leaders of the nations, so they may have the courage to abandon projects of death," the pontiff said in the video message.
"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 said.
Pope’s Monthly Prayer Intentions
Leo releases a video message each month to announce his prayer intentions for that month. The pope's intention for March is "for disarmament and peace".
Context of the Appeal
Uncertainty Over Video’s Timing
It was unclear if Thursday's video was created specifically to respond to the U.S.-Israeli military campaign, which has set off a regional war with Iranian attacks in Israel, the Gulf and Iraq, and Israeli attacks in Lebanon.
The Vatican did not immediately respond to a question about when the video was recorded.
Vatican’s Diplomatic Response
Criticism of Preventive War
The Vatican's top diplomat warned on Wednesday that the U.S.-Israeli strikes undermined international law and said nations did not have a right to launch "preventive wars", an unusually direct criticism of the military campaign.
Cardinal Parolin’s Statement
"If states were to be recognised as having a right to 'preventive war' ... the entire world could risk going up in flames," Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's secretary of state, said in an interview with Vatican News.
Pope’s Vision for True Security
In his video, the pope asked God to help the world understand "that true security does not come from control fuelled by fear but from trust, justice and solidarity among peoples."
(Reporting by Joshua McElwee, Editing by William Maclean)
