Pope Leo XIV has expressed his "deep concern" over the events in the Middle East over the weekend, which has thrown the region into chaos, with Bishop Anthony Randazzo stranded in Dubai along with thousands of other travellers.
On Saturday, Israel and the United States began carrying out joint airstrikes on Tehran and several other Iranian cities, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who ruled Iran for nearly 37 years.
Iran then responded with attacks on Israel and several Gulf countries, targeting United States regional allies, including the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.
Bishop Anthony had been on his way to Rome for meetings but was caught in Dubai during the offensives, forcing him to be evacuated from the airport to a hotel.
“While tensions remain high here in Dubai, I want to assure everyone that I am safe,” Bishop Randazzo said.
“In moments like these, I urge us all to lift our prayers to God and intercede for peace in our time.
“Violence only begets more violence, and it is always the innocent who suffer most. Let us pray for the people of the Middle East, regardless of nationality, culture, or religion. May we seek peace, pursue peace, and speak peace."
His words were echoed by Pope Leo during his Angelus address on Sunday, where he expressed his concern over the escalation in tensions in the region.
“Stability and peace are not built with mutual threats, nor with weapons, which sow destruction, pain, and death, but only through a reasonable, authentic, and responsible dialogue,” he said.
“Faced with the possibility of a tragedy of enormous proportions, I address to the parties involved a heartfelt appeal to assume the moral responsibility to stop the spiral of violence before it becomes an irreparable abyss!”
He urged nations to return to dialogue to seek peace, rather than resorting to war and destruction.
“May diplomacy recover its role and may the good of peoples be promoted, peoples who long for peaceful coexistence founded on justice,” he said. “And let us continue to pray for peace.”