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Pope condemns killing of protesters in Iran, reaffirms stance against war

Middle East News

23-04-2026 | 13:59

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Pope condemns killing of protesters in Iran, reaffirms stance against war

Pope Leo on Thursday firmly condemned the killing of protesters in Iran, after U.S. President Donald Trump criticized the Catholic leader last week for not doing so while speaking out against the U.S.-Israel war with Iran.

Leo, the first U.S. pope, also decried the deaths of "so many" civilians in the war and lamented the collapse of U.S.-Iran peace talks in comments aboard his return flight to Rome after a four-nation Africa tour.

"I condemn all actions that are unjust. I condemn the taking of people's lives," the pope said in response to a question in a press conference about reports that Iran has killed thousands of protesters.

"When a regime, when a country takes decisions which takes away the lives of other people unjustly, then obviously that ⁠is something that should be condemned," he said.

Reuters

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