Iran felicitates Pope Leo XIV as new Catholic leader
Iranian officials congratulated Pope Leo XIV on his election, stressing Tehran’s willingness to expand relations with the Vatican.
Mahmoud Alavi, the special assistant to the Iranian president and chairman of the Council for Ethnic, Religious, and Sectarian Affairs in a message to Pope Leo XIV on Saturday called his election an important event that is a turning point for millions of Catholics around the world.
He said that the election of Pope Leo XIV as the new leader of the world’s Catholics reminds the importance of the role of religion in promoting peace, justice, and coexistence in the world.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also in a message on Friday extended his congratulations to the newly elected Pope Leo XIV, expressing hope that the new papacy will strengthen the role of religious values in promoting justice, peace, and dialogue in an increasingly troubled world.
“At a time when the world is plagued as rarely before by injustice and cruelty, poverty and inequality, and war and bloodshed, the global attention to the election of a new pope reflects a shared hope for religion and religious teachings to safeguard lofty moral and human values and to prevent the dominance of moral vices over humanity,” he wrote.
Pope Leo XIV, who was elected on Thursday, is the first American to lead the Catholic Church in its 2,000-year history.
“We pray for the soul of Pope Francis,” Araghchi added, referring to the late pontiff, “And we are confident that your election as the leader of the Catholic faithful will be an important opportunity to promote spirituality, ethics, justice, and human dignity; to enhance tolerance among religions, ethnicities, and nations; and to protect peace and tranquility.”
Reaffirming Iran’s longstanding approach to promoting ethical values and human rights based on religious teachings, Araghchi emphasized Tehran’s willingness to bolster ties with the Vatican.