Pope Leo on Tuesday praised an interim deal between the United States and Iran aimed at reducing tensions and helping end the regional war in the Middle East. Speaking from Castel Gandolfo, he said “thanks be to God” that the two sides are scheduled to formalize their accord on Friday. The remarks come after the pope previously criticised the Iran-related conflict, which had drawn criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump, according to multiple reports. Reuters and other outlets describe the pope as expressing hope that the agreement will lead to an enduring end to the fighting, rather than a temporary pause. The interim arrangement is presented in the coverage as a step toward further, more formal commitments between Washington and Tehran. The reporting is consistent in attributing the pope’s positive reaction to the timing of the planned formalization and in framing his comments as support for efforts to end the wider regional conflict. The sources do not provide additional detail on the deal’s specific terms, focusing instead on the pope’s response and the scheduled next step.