Iran officials voice support for Pope’s peace remarks, rebuke Trump
Qalibaf praises pontiff’s ‘fearless’ stance
Christian members of Iran’s Parliament, joined by senior officials and clerics, on Tuesday praised Pope Leo XIV’s anti-war stance and condemned US President Donald Trump’s remarks about the pontiff, describing them as an affront to “peace” and religious sanctities.
In a joint statement issued on behalf of Iran’s Christian community, three lawmakers denounced what they called “insults” by Trump toward the head of the Roman Catholic Church, after the Pope criticized recent aggression against Iran and warned against a “delusion of omnipotence” driving conflict, IRNA reported.
The legislators said the Pope’s position reflected divine teachings that call for unity and peace, stressing that humanity should act as a “single family.” They described Trump’s comments as a “blatant attack” on justice and interfaith values, and said disrespect toward religious leaders and figures such as Jesus Christ was unacceptable to “any free person.”
President Masoud Pezeshkian echoed the criticism a day earlier, condemning the remarks in a message addressed to the pontiff and reaffirming that desecration of revered religious figures runs counter to shared human and moral principles.
“His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, I condemn the insult to Your Excellency on behalf of the great nation of Iran, and declare that the desecration of Jesus, the prophet of peace and brotherhood, is not acceptable to any free person. I wish you glory by Allah,” the Iranian president wrote in a post on his X account.
Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf also lauded the Pope’s “fearless” stance against what he termed war crimes, saying the message “I fear nothing” had resonated widely among those who refuse silence in the face of civilian suffering.
Grand Ayatollah Hossein Nouri Hamedani, in a letter released Monday, described the Pope’s position as “courageous” and enduring, saying it would be immortalized globally as a stand against injustice. He highlighted the role of religious leaders in defending human dignity despite political pressure.
Culture Minister Abbas Salehi, in a separate post, criticized Trump’s rhetoric as excessive and warned it reflected the historical trajectory of “Pharaohs,” invoking a religious metaphor to stress the limits of power.
The statements follow escalating rhetorical exchanges after the Pope voiced opposition to military action targeting Iran, drawing reactions across political and religious circles in the country.