Bishop Michael Burbidge of Arlington, Virginia, issued a statement March 2 calling for prayers for a swift end to escalating U.S.-Israeli military strikes against Iran, urging the faithful and “people of goodwill” to seek “genuine and lasting peace” in the Middle East and beyond.
“As U.S.-Israeli strikes against the Iranian regime unfold, I invite all the faithful and people of goodwill to pray for a swift conclusion to hostilities,” Bishop Burbidge stated. “The Church reminds us that true peace is a reflection of Christ’s peace, and in this life is a work of justice and fruit of charity. May we together pray for genuine and lasting peace for the people of Iran, the Middle East, and our world.”
Bishop Burbidge’s appeal followed similar calls from Pope Leo XIV and the president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), who expressed alarm following Feb. 28 strikes that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
As Zeale News previously reported, Pope Leo expressed “deep concern” about the escalating violence, saying stability “is not built with mutual threats, nor with weapons, which sow destruction, pain, and death, but only through a reasonable, authentic, and responsible dialogue,” in an address after leading the Sunday Angelus in St. Peter’s Square on March 1.
Warning of “the possibility of a tragedy of enormous proportions,” the Pope appealed to leaders involved “to assume the moral responsibility to stop the spiral of violence before it becomes an irreparable abyss.” He said diplomacy must “recover its proper role” and urged continued prayer for peace.
>> Pope Leo on Iran conflict: Peace is ‘not achieved through mutual threats’ or weapons <<
Archbishop Paul Coakley, president of the USCCB, issued a statement March 1 “reiterating Pope Leo XIV’s call for all parties in the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran to resume diplomacy and cease the cycle of violence,” Zeale News reported.
“The growing conflict risks spiraling into a wider regional war,” the USCCB president said. “As the Holy Father has warned, we are faced with the possibility of a tragedy of immense proportions. My brother bishops and I unite our voice with our Holy Father and make the heartfelt appeal to all parties involved for diplomacy to regain its proper role.”