Vatican City, Holy See—Pope Leo XIV offered prayers for those killed in protests in Iran and in the conflict in Syria during his weekly Angelus prayer on Sunday, calling for dialogue and peace.
“My thoughts turn to what is happening these days in the Middle East, particularly in Iran and Syria, where persistent tensions are causing the deaths of many people,” the US pontiff said at the Vatican.
“I hope and pray for the patient cultivation of dialogue and peace, for the common good of society as a whole.”
Leo also offered his prayers for the people of Ukraine following “particularly serious” Russian strikes focused on energy infrastructure.
The attacks were “hitting the civilian population hard, just as the cold weather is getting worse,” the head of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics said.
“I pray for those who are suffering and renew my appeal for an end to violence and for efforts to achieve peace to be intensified.”
At least 192 people have been killed in two weeks of protests against the government and economic strain in Iran, a rights group said on Sunday, in a sharp rise from an earlier death toll of 51.
“Since the start of the protests, Iran Human Rights has confirmed the killing of at least 192 protesters,” the Norway-based NGO said, warning that the toll could be much higher as a days-long internet blackout hampered verification.
