Rome: Pope Leo XIV stated that the war being waged by the United States and Israel against Iran does not meet the criteria of a 'just war.' He argued that the centuries-old theory of just war no longer reflects the realities of modern warfare.

According to Anadolu Agency, speaking to journalists aboard his flight from Rome to Madrid during the fourth foreign trip of his pontificate, the pope was asked whether the conflict in Iran could be considered a just war after US Vice President JD Vance invoked the concept to justify Washington's military actions against Tehran. Pope Leo firmly responded, 'There is no just war there,' emphasizing that the theory originates from a time when the destructive capacities of modern weapons were unimaginable.

The pontiff's remarks come amid ongoing tensions with US President Donald Trump over the conflict in Iran. As the fighting continued, Pope Leo consistently called for an end to the war and criticized rhetoric that he said could lead to further escalation. Earlier in the year, he condemned Trump's threat that 'there will be no civilization left in Iran' as 'unacceptable.'

In response to the pope's criticism, President Trump described Pope Leo as 'weak and terrible on foreign policy.' The pope, however, rejected this criticism, asserting that he was not afraid and would continue to speak out against war.

The exchange between Pope Leo and President Trump also sparked reactions in Italy. Italian political leaders criticized Trump's remarks and expressed support for the pope's calls for peace. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni labeled the comments directed at Pope Leo as 'unacceptable.'