Pope Leo calls war a ‘painful defeat’ of negotiations as Israel and Iran trade worst strikes in months

(Christopher Lamb – CNN) Pope Leo XIV has described war as a “painful defeat” of negotiations while lamenting that violence and polarization has plunged the world into a “profound” crisis during a historic, peace-focused speech at the Spanish parliament Monday. Leo XIV’s address to politicians in the Cortes Generales, the first by a pontiff, stressed that “peace demands diplomatic courage, ethical responsibility” and for countries to resolve disputes through international law. His remarks come as Israel and Iran trade strikes in the worst escalation of the war since the April truce and on a day when the pope met Spain’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, who has opposed the United States and Israel’s war in Iran. The pope, who has also been outspoken in his opposition to the conflict, was defended by Sánchez when US President Donald Trump attacked the pontiff for his opposition to the Iran war. Trump has also clashed with Sánchez over Iran. – Pope Leo calls war a ‘painful defeat’ of negotiations as Israel and Iran trade worst strikes in months | CNN