Pope Leo calls Trump’s threat to destroy Iranian civilization ‘unacceptable’

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Pope Leo has labeled Donald Trump’s threats against Iran “unacceptable” in an unusual appeal hours after the U.S. president said “a whole civilization will die tonight.”

Leo, an outspoken critic of the Iran war, called on citizens across the world to contact their political representatives and urge them to bring the expanding conflict to an end.

“Today, as we all know, there was this threat against all the people of Iran. This is truly unacceptable,” the pope said Tuesday.

It comes as Trump’s social media post has shocked world leaders and led to calls for his removal via the 25th amendment.

“A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will,” the US president wrote Tuesday.

A man holds the Iranian prerevolution lion and sun flag as Pope Leo XIV addresses the crowd from the window of the apostolic palace overlooking St. Peter’s square on April 6, 2026 (AFP via Getty Images)

“However, now that we have Complete and Total Regime Change, where different, smarter, and less radicalized minds prevail, maybe something revolutionarily wonderful can happen, WHO KNOWS?” he continued.

“We will find out tonight, one of the most important moments in the long and complex history of the World. 47 years of extortion, corruption, and death, will finally end. God Bless the Great People of Iran!”

Trump said Monday that he was “not at all” concerned about committing possible war crimes.

He has threatened to destroy Iran’s bridges and power plants if Tehran does not meet his deadline to reopen the Strait of Hormuz by 8pm EDT (1am BST).

At least 50 Democratic members of Congress are calling on the Trump administration to invoke the 25th Amendment to remove the president from office over his escalating threats against Iran.

The House and Senate are still on recess, and vice-president JD Vance is overseas, so there would not be any imminent action, if any was even possible.

More to follow…