Here in the U.S., we’re witnessing a clash between the religious and the political when it comes to matters of war, specifically the Iran war. Was the Pope right to speak out against the war?
MA: It is only natural for the Pope to advocate for peace over war. We, along with all those who cherish peace, stand against conflict in our world. True religious leaders are peacemakers, not advocates for war. However, while we join the Pope in calling to spare the region the horrors of war, we also call for more robust diplomatic dialogue and the triumph of wisdom and logic.
We cannot be lenient toward the threat of weapons of mass destruction to the region; we must rely on international mechanisms that are actually effective. When we say no weapons of mass destruction and no arms race in the region—and also no to exposing the region to the woes of war—the balance point between them is diplomacy.
We were encouraged by the return to diplomatic efforts in Islamabad, and as the second round begins, we remain hopeful for a resolution. This requires Iran to prioritize the well-being of its own people and protect the region from further escalation by immediately abandoning its nuclear program, which destabilizes the region and triggers a dangerous arms race. Simply put, we urge Iran to exercise political awareness rather than the ideological illusions it has used to threaten its neighbors and violate state sovereignty.
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