DILI, 09 April 2026 (TATOLI) – Pope Leo welcomed the announcement of a provisional two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran, urging all parties to engage in sustained dialogue to bring an end to the hostilities.
The Pope said he welcomed the ceasefire “with satisfaction and as a sign of deep hope” at the conclusion of his General Audience on Wednesday.
Pope Leo, speaking to the faithful in St. Peter’s Square, said, “Only through a return to the negotiating table can we bring the war to an end,” the Vatican News reported.
Meanwhile, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres also welcomed the ceasefire on Wednesday, calling it a positive step toward easing tensions in the Middle East.
In a statement, Guterres urged all parties involved in the conflict to fully respect the terms of the agreement and adhere to international law.
On April 7, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Washington and Tehran had reached a two-week ceasefire. The announcement followed discussions with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, who had urged restraint amid rising regional tensions.
Trump described the ceasefire as part of a broader effort to de-escalate the situation and advance negotiations toward a longer-term settlement.
“This will be a double-sided ceasefire,” he said, adding that the United States had “already met and exceeded all military objectives” and was “very far along with a definitive agreement concerning long-term peace with Iran, and peace in the Middle East.”
He emphasized that resolving the dispute would represent significant progress toward regional stability.
TATOLI
