Overview
- Speaking outside the papal retreat at Castel Gandolfo, Leo appealed to “pray for peace,” “work for peace,” and “seek solutions without weapons.”
- He reiterated his Angelus message that stability is not achieved through mutual threats or the use of arms but through sincere, responsible dialogue.
- The fighting has spread across the region, with Iran striking targets in Bahrain, Qatar, the U.A.E., Saudi Arabia, and Oman, Israeli forces hitting Hezbollah targets including in Beirut, and drone attacks reported at U.S. embassies in Dubai and Riyadh.
- Commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has nearly stopped as prices jump and insurers pull coverage, and President Donald Trump said he is weighing U.S. naval escorts for tankers.
- Reported casualties continue to rise, including six U.S. servicemembers confirmed dead, nearly 800 people killed in Iran, and at least 11 deaths in Israel, while Trump said the campaign could last up to five weeks and did not rule out deploying ground forces if necessary.