U.S. Bishops Urge Global Diplomacy to Attain Peace Between Israel and Iran

Washington D.C., June 18, 2025: The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) issued a statement on Tuesday, June 17, in which it urged the U.S. government and the international community to pursue multilateral diplomatic engagement for the attainment of a durable peace between Israel and Iran.

The statement was issued by Bishop A. Elias Zaidan, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on International Justice and Peace, in response to intensifying violence between Israel and Iran for the fifth consecutive day.

In the statement, Bishop Zaidan urged the renewal of multilateral diplomacy to de-escalate the conflict and prevent further instability. “The further proliferation of nuclear weapons in the Middle East, as well as this escalation of violence, imperils the fragile stability remaining in the region,” Bishop Zaidan warned.

The conflict between Israel and Iran erupted last Friday when Israel launched airstrikes targeting Iranian military officials and nuclear scientists. Iran retaliated with missile and rocket attacks against Israeli targets. As of Tuesday, over 220 people have been killed in Iran and 21 in Israel.

Quoting Pope Leo XIV, Bishop Zaidan emphasised the moral responsibility of all nations in working towards peace in the Middle East. “It is the duty of all countries to support the cause of peace by initiating paths of reconciliation and promoting solutions that guarantee security and dignity for all,” he said. He echoed Cardinal Dominique Joseph Mathieu, Archbishop of Tehran, in expressing hope that dialogue based on consensus will lead to peace.

Bishop Zaidan also appealed to the faithful and people of goodwill around the world to pray for an end to hostilities in the Middle East.

Meanwhile, violence continued in Gaza, where at least 51 Palestinians were reportedly killed on Tuesday in Khan Younis while awaiting humanitarian aid. Eyewitnesses claimed Israeli tanks fired on the crowd, although the Israeli military has not commented on the incident. This marks yet another deadly episode in the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region.

Courtesy: Vatican News