As he held his weekly General Audience on Wednesday, June 17, Pope Leo XIV appealed for Iran and the United States to continue along the path of dialogue and cooperation.

The two countries are expected to sign a Memorandum of Understanding on Friday, after nearly four months of war.

“I welcome with satisfaction the reaching of an agreement between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America, which will be signed on Friday, as an encouraging result of patient work of dialogue and negotiation,” said the Pope.

He thanked the third-party countries that have worked to facilitate peace negotiations.

“I hope that this agreement may help strengthen mutual trust, security and stability in the Middle East, promoting paths of dialogue and cooperation among peoples,” he said.

The United States and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran on February 28, targeting the country’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

Iran responded with counter-strikes against Israel and US bases and allies in the Gulf region, while disrupting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

Appeal for Ukraine

Pope Leo also lamented the growing number of deaths in Ukraine as Russia intensifies its attacks on the country, especially on Ukrainian cities.

“There are many innocent victims, rescuers killed, churches, and places of cultural heritage devastated by flames,” he said. “I am close to all those who mourn their loved ones, to the wounded, and to those who, amid violence, continue courageously to serve life.”

Pope Leo XIV invited everyone to pray for an end to the war in Ukraine.

“I invite everyone to pray that this war may end,” he said. “Let us ask the Lord to open paths of dialogue, to extinguish hatred, and to make a just and lasting peace possible.”