Why Pope Leo was ‘economic with words’ on Iran war

On Saturday morning, Feb. 28, the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran, killing its leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei along with other senior regime figures. The following day, Pope Leo appealed for peace, urging world leaders to stop “the spiral of violence before it becomes an unbridgeable chasm.” This week on “Inside the Vatican,” Veteran Vatican Correspondent Gerard O’Connell explains why he saw Leo’s comments as relatively restrained compared to John Paul II’s at the beginning of the Iraq War.

In the second part of the show, Gerry shares a story from his forthcoming book on the 2025 conclave.

0:00 Intro

2:20 Vatican response to Iran war

7:05 John Paul II on the 2003 Iraq War

9:07 Pope Leo decries 'zeal for war'

10:48 Archbishop Coakley speaks out on war

11:30 On the Christian communities of Tehran

12:50 Pope Leo talks on Hong Kong activist Jimmy Lai

14:18 Cardinal Parolin's statements on the war

19:00 What difference the Vatican make

22:14 Stories from Gerry's new book on the conclave

25:40 Cardinal forgets to give away his phone

27:25 Cardinals unused to having no phones

29:00 Behind the scenes of the conclave

32:05 Is the conclave not 'top secret'?

33:26 Outro

Links:

Pope Leo urges a halt to ‘spiral of violence’ across Iran and Middle East

Cardinal Parolin on Iran war: ‘The force of law has been replaced by the law of force’

Address of Pope Leo XIV to Members of the Diplomatic Corps Accredited to the Holy See, Jan. 9, 2026

Against Unjust and Unjustified War with Iran

I regret supporting the Iraq War. We shouldn’t repeat our mistakes in Iran now.

Book Excerpt: Behind the scenes of Pope Leo XIV’s election

The Election of Pope Leo XIV: The Last Surprise of Pope Francis

Follow Gerry on X: @gerryorome

Follow Colleen on Instagram: @colleendulle

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