Pope Leo XIV has publicly endorsed the interim deal between the United States and Iran, expressing hope that dialogue will replace violence as the primary instrument of Middle Eastern geopolitics.
The pope’s endorsement comes as President Donald Trump indicated on May 25, 2026, that a broader peace deal with Iran was largely negotiated. A key component of that deal: reopening the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway through which a massive share of the world’s crude oil flows.
From ceasefire to framework
Back on April 8, 2026, a two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran was announced, and Pope Leo wasted no time calling it a “sign of living hope.” The ceasefire emerged from rounds of talks that had bounced between Oman in 2025 and Islamabad in April 2026.
During his return journey from an African mission in April 2026, Pope Leo reiterated the urgent need for sustained peace talks. The pontiff criticized what he characterized as inconsistent diplomacy, a pointed remark that appeared directed at shifting rhetoric from Washington during the conflict.
