(OSV News) — Pope Leo XIV called on world leaders, including President Donald Trump by name, to return to peace talks and deescalate the war in the Middle East March 31.
He shared his thoughts after being asked at a news conference while leaving Castel Gandolfo if he has a message for world leaders, particularly Trump, amid escalating violence in the Middle East.
“I was told that President Trump had recently stated that he would like to end the war,” Pope Leo told journalists. “Hopefully he’s looking for an off-ramp. Hopefully he’s looking for a way to decrease the amount of violence, of bombing, which would be a significant contribution to removing the hatred that’s being created and is increasing constantly in the Middle East and elsewhere.”
He continued: “So I would certainly continue to give this call to all leaders of the world: to say, come back to the table to dialogue, let’s look for solutions to problems, let’s look for ways to reduce the amount of violence that we’re promoting, and that peace, especially at Easter, might reign in our hearts.”
Pope Leo answered questions in Italian, English and Spanish as he was leaving Castel Gandolfo, a lakeside town 13 miles southeast of Rome, after his customary Tuesday day off.
Pope Leo has been a vocal critic of war in the Middle East and beyond. His comments March 31 followed his first Palm Sunday homily as pope, in which he proclaimed that Jesus, the King of Peace, embraces all suffering in human history and cries out from the cross against war.
God, Pope Leo said, “does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them, saying: ‘Even though you make many prayers, I will not listen: your hands are full of blood’ (Is 1:15).”
Asked about the pontiff’s comments at a March 30 press briefing, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the U.S. was founded “on Judeo-Christian values,” and that the nation’s leaders, presidents and troops have gone “to prayer during the most turbulent times in our nation’s history.”
“I don’t think there’s anything wrong with our military leaders or with the president calling on the American people to pray for our service members and those who are serving our country overseas,” Leavitt said, adding: “In fact, I think it’s a very noble thing to do.”
“If you talk to many service members, they will tell you they appreciate the prayers and support from the commander in chief and from his Cabinet,” she said.
The pope repeated the phrase “King of Peace” seven times throughout his homily, weaving it through different moments of the passion of Christ, pointing to Jesus as a victim of unjust violence who never took up arms in his own defense.
Updated on March 31, 2026, at 7:31 p.m. ET
