Pope Leo has condemned the use of aerial bombings in warfare, calling them indiscriminate and urging the international community to ban them, as the US-Israeli war on Iran enters its fourth week.
Speaking on Monday during a meeting with executives and staff of ITA Airways in Rome, the pontiff highlighted the devastating impact of airstrikes on civilian populations, without directly naming the ongoing conflict.
“No one should have to fear that threats of death and destruction might come from the sky,” he said, stressing that humanity should have learned from the catastrophic air campaigns of the 20th century.
“After the tragic experiences of the 20th century, aerial bombings should have been banned forever. Yet they still exist… this is not progress; it is regression,” Pope Leo added.
The pope’s remarks follow his comments on Sunday, when he described the war as a “scandal to the whole human family,” reiterating his call for an immediate ceasefire and a return to diplomacy.
ITA Airways, a subsidiary of German aviation giant Lufthansa that often handles papal international travel, served as the venue for the pontiff’s latest anti-war statement.
The conflict, now in its fourth week, has drawn global attention, with multiple countries reportedly exploring mediation between Washington and Tehran, even as military operations continue across the region.
