Anglican Archbishop Backs Pope Leo XIV’s Call for Peace Amid Iran War

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, has voiced support for a peace appeal made by Pope Leo XIV as the conflict in Iran intensifies.

Her statement comes at a time of growing tension between the Vatican and Washington, following sharp criticism of the Pope by US President Donald Trump.

In a formal statement released on Thursday, 16 April 2026, Archbishop Mullally described the Pope’s message as “a courageous call towards a kingdom of peace”. She expressed cross-denominational solidarity, saying she “stands with [her] brother in Christ” in urging an end to the violence. She added that the humanitarian cost of the war — from civilian casualties to families being torn apart — could not be ignored.

Mullally, who was installed on 25 March 2026 at Canterbury Cathedral, succeeding Justin Welby, now leads the global Anglican Communion, representing around 85 million people worldwide. She called on Christians and people of other faiths to “work and pray for peace”, while urging political leaders to pursue just and peaceful solutions to the conflict.

Although she did not refer to President Trump directly, her remarks are widely seen as a response to his criticism of the Pope.

Since early 2026, Pope Leo XIV has repeatedly condemned the war in Iran, involving US and Israeli military operations. During a recent visit to Cameroon, he said the world was being “ravaged by a handful of tyrants” spending billions on war while civilians suffer.

Those comments prompted a strong reaction from President Trump, who described the Pope as “weak” on foreign policy. The US leader also briefly shared a controversial image resembling Jesus Christ, before later deleting it.

The Pope renewed his call for an end to the conflict during a Palm Sunday Mass at St. Peter's Basilica, where he stressed that war is not God’s way and rejected the use of religion to justify violence.

Archbishop Mullally is scheduled to meet the Pope at the Vatican on 25 April, in what observers say could strengthen a unified Christian message for peace amid the global crisis.

Her leadership — as the first woman to hold the post of Archbishop of Canterbury — marks a historic moment for the Church of England. Before entering ordained ministry, she worked as an oncology nurse and midwife, a background that has informed her humanitarian perspective.

Meanwhile, the war in Iran continues to result in civilian casualties and mass displacement, with wider implications for the Strait of Hormuz and global economic stability.

“This is the calling of every Christian — and all people of goodwill — to work and pray for peace,” Archbishop Mullally said.

Her support underscores a growing moral voice across Christian denominations calling for an end to the violence, in contrast with geopolitical strategies that continue to rely on military force. []