Overview
- Trump, in a Truth Social post Tuesday, warned that “a whole civilization” could be destroyed if Iran ignored his ultimatum to open the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil chokepoint.
- Hours later Tuesday in Washington, the White House announced a two-week pause in strikes and agreed to negotiations with Iran.
- Pope Leo XIV called the threats unacceptable and urged talks, saying strikes on civilian infrastructure would violate international law.
- He pressed leaders to protect civilians and he asked people in the countries at war to push for peace through their elected officials.
- U.S. Catholic bishops echoed the appeal, with Archbishop Paul Coakley urging Trump to step back from the brink and rejecting threats against a “whole civilization,” as the Vatican also declined a July 4 White House invite and a role in Trump’s “Board of Peace.”