--- title: "JUST IN:🚨 🇻🇦Pope Leo XIV urged 🇺🇸Donald Trump to find a PEACEFUL …" source: "https://x.com/InfoR00M/status/2039060314466238512" platform: "X / Twitter" factual_accuracy: 91 overall_accuracy: null tags: ["war on iran", "iran", "donald trump", "diplomacy", "pope leo xiv", "vatican", "civilian casualties", "peace"] --- # Source fact-check: JUST IN:🚨 🇻🇦Pope Leo XIV urged 🇺🇸Donald Trump to find a PEACEFUL … Original post: https://x.com/InfoR00M/status/2039060314466238512 Factual accuracy: 91% · Overall accuracy: Unknown ## Source post **Target post by @InfoR00M** > JUST IN:🚨 > > 🇻🇦Pope Leo XIV urged 🇺🇸Donald Trump to find a PEACEFUL EXIT from 🇮🇷Iran war, stressing rising deaths, including children, & calling for urgent end to violence - Reuters ## Post analysis Post analysis will start after all claims are evaluated. ## Claims found (4) ### 1. Pope Leo XIV urged Donald Trump to find a peaceful exit from the Iran war — 95% Model: Kimi K2.5 · Checked on: 07/04/2026 · Detail: /claim/JuYlKY7W1SwEPjyJLNhr **Verification of the Claim:** **Reasoning:** - Pope Leo XIV (the first U.S.-born pope) made remarks on March 31, 2026, specifically addressing the U.S.-Israel war on Iran[^1][^3] - The pope directly referenced President Trump, stating: "I'm told that President Trump has recently stated that he would like to end the war. I hope that he's looking for an off-ramp"[^2][^1] - An "off-ramp" is another term for a peaceful exit or exit strategy from military conflict - The pope urged Trump and other world leaders to "come back to the table, to dialogue" and to "look for ways to reduce the amount of violence"[^1][^3] - He expressed hope that Trump would find "a way to decrease the amount of violence, of bombing, which would be a significant contribution to removing the hatred that's being created"[^3][^2] - The remarks were made during Holy Week 2026 (March 31), with the pope calling for peace, especially at Easter[^3][^1] The claim is accurate in substance. Pope Leo XIV did urge/encourage Trump to find a peaceful exit ("off-ramp") from the Iran war, calling for dialogue and reduction of violence rather than continued military action. **Overall validity**: 95% [^1]: [Pope Leo XIV urges an Easter end to the US-Israel war on Iran, says ...](https://abc7news.com/post/pope-leo-xiv-urges-easter-end-us-israel-war-iran-says-trump-recently-stated-he-would-like/18821983/) [^3]: [Pope Leo Urges Trump, World Leaders to End Iran War](https://ewtnvatican.com/articles/pope-leo-trump-world-leaders-end-iran-war) [^2]: [Pope Leo Condemns “Imperialist Occupation” as He Urges Trump to ...](https://truthout.org/articles/pope-leo-condemns-imperialist-occupation-as-he-urges-trump-to-end-war-on-iran/) ### 2. Pope Leo XIV stated that deaths are rising in the Iran war — 85% Model: Kimi K2.5 · Checked on: 07/04/2026 · Detail: /claim/p21tACN3cZ9FfmewSKxw **Fact-Check Analysis:** Based on my research, I can verify that Pope Leo XIV has made statements about deaths in the Iran war: **Reasoning:** - Pope Leo XIV has made multiple public statements about the Iran war since it began on February 28, 2026[^2][^3][^1][^4][^5] - On April 1, 2026, the Pope stated: "in many places we are seeing so much suffering, so many deaths, even innocent children"[^5] - He has consistently condemned the violence, stating that weapons "sow destruction, suffering, and death"[^1][^3] - On March 1, 2026, he warned of a "tragedy of enormous proportions" arising from the conflict[^3][^1] - The Pope has also said "Hatred in the world is constantly increasing" in reference to the escalating conflict[^4][^5] - He specifically expressed being "particularly close to the families of victims killed in attacks that have struck schools, hospitals and residential areas"[^2] While the Pope has not used the exact phrasing "deaths are rising," he has consistently expressed concern about the increasing death toll and suffering in the Iran war, referring to "so many deaths" and the growing tragedy. The substance of the claim is accurate based on his documented statements. **Overall validity**: 85% [^2]: [Pope Leo XIV calls for immediate ceasefire in Iran conflict | Fox News](https://www.foxnews.com/world/pope-leo-urges-war-leaders-halt-fighting-after-deadly-strike-school-sparks-outrage) [^3]: [Pope Leo warns of 'irreparable abyss,' if diplomacy doesn't take over ...](https://catholicreview.org/pope-leo-warns-of-irreparable-abyss-if-diplomacy-doesnt-take-over-violence-in-iran-middle-east/) [^1]: [Pope Leo XIV is speaking out on the war in Iran - ABC News](https://www.abc.net.au/religion/miles-pattenden-pope-leo-xiv-is-speaking-out-on-the-war-in-iran/106424254) [^4]: [Pope Leo XIV: “Work for peace" and "seek solutions without weapons”](https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2026-03/pope-leo-xiv-work-for-peace-and-seek-solutions-without-weapons.html) [^5]: [Pope Leo XIV urges an Easter end to the US-Israel war on Iran, calling for dialogue | National Catholic Reporter](https://www.ncronline.org/vatican/pope-leo-xiv-urges-easter-end-us-israel-war-iran-calling-dialogue) ### 3. Pope Leo XIV stated that children are among the rising deaths in the Iran war — 85% Model: Kimi K2.5 · Checked on: 07/04/2026 · Detail: /claim/FYRlThYOCtSutsUB5oxd Based on my research, here is my fact-check analysis of the claim that Pope Leo XIV stated that children are among the rising deaths in the Iran war. **Reasoning:** - Pope Leo XIV has made multiple statements lamenting the deaths of children in the Iran war. On March 11, 2026, during his weekly audience in St. Peter's Square, he said: "Let us continue to pray for peace in Iran, and throughout the Middle East, especially for the many civilian victims, including many innocent children"[^1] - UNICEF reported that more than 1,100 children were injured or killed in the conflict, with 200 reportedly killed in Iran, 91 in Lebanon, 4 in Israel, and 1 in Kuwait[^2] - The Pope specifically stated that "violence is getting worse" and noted "hatred is on the rise" during his March 24 remarks about the war[^3] - However, I did not find the Pope using the exact phrase "rising deaths" in connection with children specifically. He lamented the death of children and noted that violence was intensifying, but the wording in the claim appears to be a paraphrase or slight mischaracterization of his actual statements - The substance of the claim is accurate—Pope Leo XIV has indeed spoken about children being among the victims as the Iran war continues and casualties mount **Overall validity**: 85% [^1]: [Pope laments death of children in Iran war, pledges closeness to ...](https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/pope-leo-laments-death-civilians-children-iran-war-2026-03-11/) [^2]: [2026 Iran war](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Iran_war) [^3]: [Pope Leo XIV calls for dialogue, not weapons, as Iran war enters 4th ...](https://www.dioceseofscranton.org/pope-leo-xiv-calls-for-dialogue-not-weapons-as-iran-war-enters-4th-week/) ### 4. Pope Leo XIV called for an urgent end to violence in the Iran war — 100% Model: Kimi K2.5 · Checked on: 07/04/2026 · Detail: /claim/DuAQwzfhswJPavNaEH1q Based on multiple reliable sources, I can verify this claim: **Reasoning:** - Pope Leo XIV has made multiple public appeals calling for an urgent end to the violence in the U.S.-Israel war on Iran[^4][^2][^1] - On March 8, 2026, the Pope urged "an end to the violence and renewed efforts to open space for dialogue" and warned the conflict was fueling fear and hatred that could spread further[^4] - On March 15, 2026, he launched a direct appeal: "Cease the fire\! Let paths of dialogue be reopened\!" stating "Violence can never lead to the justice, the stability and the peace that peoples are awaiting"[^1] - On March 24, 2026, the Pope renewed his call for a ceasefire, saying "I want to renew my call for a ceasefire, to work toward peace, not through weapons, but through dialogue"[^3] - On April 1, 2026 (Holy Week), he specifically stated "Hopefully he's looking for a way to decrease the amount of violence, of bombing, which would be a significant contribution to removing the hatred that's being created, that's increasing constantly in the Middle East and elsewhere"[^2] The Pope has consistently and urgently called for an end to violence and a return to dialogue throughout this conflict. **Overall validity**: 100% [^4]: [Pope Leo urges end to bombing, calls for dialogue amid ...](https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/pope-leo-urges-end-bombing-calls-dialogue-amid-iran-middle-east-violence-2026-03-08/) [^2]: [Pope Leo XIV urges an Easter end to the US-Israel war on Iran ...](https://www.ncronline.org/vatican/pope-leo-xiv-urges-easter-end-us-israel-war-iran-calling-dialogue) [^1]: [Pope appeals for ceasefire and dialogue in Middle East war](https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2026-03/pope-leo-appeal-ceasefire-dialogue-middle-east-iran-us-israel.html) [^3]: [Pope Leo XIV calls for dialogue, not weapons, as Iran war enters 4th ...](https://www.dioceseofscranton.org/pope-leo-xiv-calls-for-dialogue-not-weapons-as-iran-war-enters-4th-week/)