Pope Leo XIV welcomes an interim agreement between the United States and Iran and says he hopes it helps end the regional war in the Middle East. Reporting from Pope Leo’s comments, the Pope publicly praised the deal and said “thanks be to God” that the two countries are set to formalize their accord on Friday. The outlets describe his remarks as supportive of efforts to reduce conflict and move toward lasting peace. One account notes that Pope Leo previously drew criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump after he commented on the Iran war, but in the current remarks the focus remains on the interim agreement’s potential to improve conditions in the region. Another source adds that the Pope expresses satisfaction at the agreement being reached and hopes it strengthens “mutual trust, security, and stability in the Middle East.” Across the reports, the Pope’s position is that the interim deal is a positive step and that it should contribute to ending the conflict for good, with formalization of the accord expected shortly.