While reading this week an analytical article by Kevin Clarke, chief correspondent for America Catholic magazine, titled “A Catholic Guide to Understanding the War with Iran,” I paused at the way he tried to interpret the rapid events in our region in light of the moral teaching of the Catholic Church. It became clear that what is happening today in the Middle East cannot be understood solely in the language of politics and military strategy; it also needs the voice of the human conscience asking the deeper question: do wars truly lead to peace, or do they open new doors to pain, displacement, and instability?

 

After images were published of several evangelical pastors from Christian groups supporting the American right, praying over their president in the Oval Office, this measured “Catholic” article served as a reminder of what in Christian thought is known as the tradition of “just war.” This is an ancient moral tradition that developed over centuries of theological reflection, but at its core it does not easily legitimize war; rather, it sets very strict conditions before resorting to it. According to this teaching, war can be justified only in very specific cases, such as self‑defense, after all diplomatic means have been exhausted, and with the imperative to protect civilians and avoid harms that exceed the evil one intends to prevent.

 

What we are witnessing today in the region raises serious questions about respect for these standards. With civilian casualties and the widening circle of violence, the world again faces a reality reminiscent of what Saint John Paul II once called, on the eve of the 2003 war on Iraq, “an adventure with no return.”

 

Hence the appeal of the pope of American origin, Leon XIV, who called for an end to the spiral of violence, stressing that world leaders are called to abandon projects of death and choose the path of dialogue and peace, because true peace is not built by military force but by justice and mutual understanding among peoples. This followed the Vatican’s apology for accepting membership in the new Peace Council and was followed by the appointment of a senior diplomat, Archbishop Gabriel Caccia, as the new Apostolic Nuncio to Washington.

 

In the Middle East, where local churches live at the heart of these crises, the Catholic patriarchs in Lebanon have expressed deep concern over the widening scope of the war, calling on the international community to take serious action to halt escalation, because continued violence will bring only more destruction and displacement for the peoples of the region. Similarly, bishops of the Gulf countries and Iraq issued urgent appeals for peace, warning of the dangerous impacts of any escalation on civilians, especially migrant workers who make up a large portion of the population.

 

Here in Jordan, the churches follow these events with great concern, while fervently praying for the continuity of security and stability in our beloved Jordan, which represents an oasis of safety in an unstable region. We place our trust in the political wisdom and diplomacy with which His Majesty King Abdullah steers the Jordanian ship, supported by the strength of the Arab Army and the public security forces who guide citizens on how to act during alert situations. We also pray for the safety of Jordanians stranded abroad because of current circumstances, that they may return safely to their families and homeland.

 

Wars may begin by political decision, but they always end in widespread human suffering. Therefore, the moral responsibility today lies with leaders and decision‑makers in the world to choose the path of wisdom and dialogue before the fire spreads further. The Middle East, cradle of civilizations and religions, should not remain a battlefield of conflicts; it can be a space for encounter and cooperation among peoples. Perhaps the voice of conscience, and the prayers of the faithful during this blessed Lent, are among the most important bridges that can lead our weary world toward genuine peace.