Preventive war? Vatican speaks out on Iran, “spiral of violence”
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The efforts made since the creation of the United Nations in 1945 “seem to have been in vain,” protested Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Holy See. He was speaking in an interview given on March 4, 2026, to Andrea Tornielli, editorial director of Vatican Media, on the fifth day of the war in Iran.
As the Middle East goes up in flames following Israeli and American strikes on Iran and the conflict spreads to the Gulf countries and Lebanon, he reiterates the Holy See's unwavering position in favor of multilateralism and the resolution of conflicts through diplomatic means.
The Holy See's number two explains that he’s following the developments of this war “with deep sadness, because the peoples of the Middle East, including the already fragile Christian communities, are once again plunged into the horror of war, which brutally claims human lives, sows destruction, and drags entire nations into a spiral of violence with uncertain consequences.”
“It’s difficult to determine who is right and who is wrong,” he acknowledged. “What is certain, however, is that violence will always result in victims and destruction, as well as devastating consequences for civilians.”
Recalling the importance of multilateralism and the United Nations Charter, Cardinal Parolin emphasized that “the use of force should only be considered as a last and very serious resort, after all instruments of political and diplomatic dialogue have been exhausted.”
The trap of “preventive war”
“If states were recognized as having the right to wage ‘preventive war’ according to their own criteria and without a supranational legal framework, the whole world would be at risk of going up in flames,” warns the Italian cardinal, expressing his concern about the deterioration of international law. “Justice has been replaced by force, the force of law by the law of the strongest, with the conviction that peace can only be achieved after the enemy has been destroyed,” he protests.
“The entire apparatus built by international law in areas such as disarmament, development cooperation, respect for fundamental rights, intellectual property, trade and commercial transit is being challenged and gradually set aside,” insists Cardinal Parolin, speaking out against the selective indignation of international leaders and public opinion.
There are no first- or second-class deaths, and no one has a greater right to life than another simply because they were born on one continent rather than another or in a particular country.
“There are no first- or second-class deaths, and no one has a greater right to life than another simply because they were born on one continent rather than another or in a particular country,” Cardinal Parolin warns. He notes that international reactions sometimes give “the impression that there are violations of the law that can be punished and others that can be tolerated.”
While acknowledging the seriousness of Iran's crackdown on last January's protests and the need to guarantee civil liberties, he explained that he does not believe “that the solution can be found by launching missiles and bombs.”
“Despite wars, destruction, uncertainty, and a general sense of disorientation, voices continue to be raised around the world calling for peace and justice. Our peoples are crying out for peace!” insists Cardinal Parolin. He stressed that “this appeal should challenge governments and all those involved in international relations.”
The Secretariat of State rehabilitated?
This statement by the Pope's Secretary of State sheds light on Leo XIV's position on diplomatic issues, although the Pontiff himself didn’t comment on the war during this morning's general audience.
By giving Cardinal Parolin more media space, the Pope is giving a more significant role to the Secretariat of State and the traditional diplomacy of the Holy See, which has always maintained contact with the Islamic Republic of Iran.
