Pope Leo praises Iran deal after calling Trump threat 'unacceptable'

Read the latest on the Strait of Hormuz.

The United States and Iran struck a two-week ceasefire deal just hours after President Donald Trump threatened to wipe out "a whole civilization."

The proposal led both countries to declare victory, with Iran saying the Strait of Hormuz would remain open.

Trump's threats to Iran have not yet been forgotten, however, with several prominent Illinois natives voicing their disapproval. One such example is Pope Leo, who was born south of Chicago and elected pope in 2025.

What did Trump say about Iran?

In a Truth Social post early Tuesday morning, Trump warned that Iran’s entire civilization would be wiped out if Tehran does not make a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

"A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again," Trump wrote. "I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will."

The comment came hours ahead of an 8 p.m. ET deadline for Iran to make a deal or face broad attacks targeting country's power plants and bridges.

"We will find out tonight, one of the most important moments in the long and complex history of the World. 47 years of extortion, corruption, and death, will finally end," Trump wrote. "God Bless the Great People of Iran!"

How did Pope Leo respond to Trump's threats to Iran?

The pope described Trump's threats to Iran as "truly unacceptable" while speaking to the press Tuesday, according to PBS News Hour.

"There are certainly issues of international law here," he continued. "But even more so a moral issue for the good of the whole entire population."

The pope urged listeners to reflect about the "many innocent people" in Iran, including children and the elderly, who have become "victims of this escalation."

He preached peace solutions, saying, "I would invite citizens of all the countries involved to contact the authorities, political leaders, congressman, to ask them to work for peace and to reject war always."

Is the war in Iran over? What does the ceasefire deal mean?

Negotiations will take place and fighting will halt during the two-week ceasefire, with the Strait of Hormuz remaining open.

Trump said Wednesday the U.S. will "work closely with Iran," adding that there are "many" points of agreement. Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth said the American military "has done its part for now" but "remains ready" to resume attacks if Iran violates the ceasefire.

The two said Iran will hand over its enriched uranium and give up future enrichment, though Tehran has repeatedly reaffirmed its right to enrich. Trump also threatened to impose 50% tariffs on countries who supply Iran with weapons.

Despite the deal, missiles and drones reportedly continued flying across the Persian Gulf region Wednesday morning, with the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait reporting injuries and limited damage.

What did Pope Leo say about ceasefire deal?

Pope Leo, on Wednesday, asked the world to join him in "this moment of delicate diplomacy with prayer, in hopes that a willingness to dialogue may become the means to resolve other conflict situations in the world as well."

The pope, in a post on X, also announced a vigil set for 6 p.m. local time on April 11 at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.

"In the wake of these hours of great tension for the #MiddleEast and the entire world, I welcome with satisfaction −and as a sign of living hope − the announcement of an immediate two-week truce. Only by returning to negotiations can the war come to an end."

CONTRIBUTING: Michael Loria, Zac Anderson, Cybele Mayes-Osterman and Christopher Cann, USA TODAY