Pope Leo XIV on Sunday appealed for the“roar of bombs” in the Middle East to cease, as the conflict triggered by US-Israeli air strikes on Iran entered its ninth day.

Speaking at the end of the Angelus prayer, the US-born pontiff expressed deep concern over the escalating violence and its impact on the region.

“Added to the episodes of violence and devastation and the widespread climate of hatred and fear, is the fear that the conflict will spread, and that other countries in the region, including beloved Lebanon, may once again sink into instability,” he said.

The remarks came as Iran prepares to announce its new Supreme Leader, following US-Israeli air strikes that destroyed fuel depots and triggered fires over Tehran, filling the city with thick smoke.

Iranian missile and drone strikes have since targeted several Gulf nations and other parts of the Middle East. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has not ruled out deploying American ground forces but maintains that the war is advancing rapidly.

Pope Leo XIV concluded by praying “that the roar of the bombs may cease, the weapons may fall silent, and a space for dialogue may open in which the voices of the peoples may be heard.”