Iran congratulates Pope Leo XIV, hopes for promotion of peace, justice
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has extended his congratulations to newly elected Pope Leo XIV, expressing hope that the new papacy will strengthen the role of religious values in promoting justice, peace, and dialogue in an increasingly troubled world.
In a Friday message sent following the election of Cardinal Robert Prevost as the 267th leader of the Roman Catholic Church, Araghchi offered his “sincere congratulations.”
“At a time when the world is plagued as rarely before by injustice and cruelty, poverty and inequality, and war and bloodshed, the global attention to the election of a new pope reflects a shared hope for religion and religious teachings to safeguard lofty moral and human values and to prevent the dominance of moral vices over humanity,” he wrote.
Pope Leo XIV, who was elected on Thursday, is the first American to lead the Catholic Church in its 2,000-year history. Originally from Chicago, the 69-year-old spent much of his clerical life serving in Peru before heading the Vatican’s influential Dicastery for Bishops.
Upon his first appearance on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, he greeted the faithful with “Peace be with you,” focusing his remarks on peace, dialogue, and missionary work.
“We pray for the soul of Pope Francis,” Araghchi added, referring to the late pontiff, “and we are confident that your election as the leader of the Catholic faithful will be an important opportunity to promote spirituality, ethics, justice, and human dignity; to enhance tolerance among religions, ethnicities, and nations; and to protect peace and tranquility.”
Reaffirming Iran’s longstanding approach to promoting ethical values and human rights based on religious teachings, Araghchi emphasized Tehran’s willingness to bolster ties with the Vatican.
The Islamic Republic of Iran, in line with its principled policy of upholding morality and the dignity of humanity throughout the world, remains committed to strengthening its relations with the Vatican and will spare no effort to advance interfaith dialogue and global peace efforts, he said.
Tehran is “ready for any exchange of ideas, synergy, and cooperation with the Vatican in this regard,” he concluded.
Pope Leo XIV, a member of the Order of St. Augustine, was selected by 135 cardinals during a closed-door conclave following the death of Pope Francis.
