POPE LEO XIV has called on Donald Trump to seek an “off-ramp” to end the US-Israel war on Iran.

Leo spends most Tuesdays at the papal retreat at Castel Gandolfo, around 40 minutes from Rome, and sometimes speaks to reporters as he returns to the Vatican.

Tonight, he was asked if he had a message for Trump and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“I’m told that President Trump has recently stated that he would like to end the war,” said Leo.

“I hope that he’s looking for an ‘off-ramp’.

Pope Leo XIV: “I'm told that President Trump recently stated that he would like to end the war. Hopefully he's looking for an 'off-ramp'. Hopefully he's looking for a way to decrease the amount of violence, of bombing, which would be a significant contribution to removing the… pic.twitter.com/PcANLJASri

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“Hopefully he’s looking for a way to decrease the amount of violence, of bombing, which would be a significant contribution to removing the hatred that’s being created, and that’s increasing constantly, in the Middle East and elsewhere.”

Leo added that he will “continue to give this call to all leaders, to say ‘come back to the table, to dialogue’”.

“Let’s look for solutions to problems,” added Leo, “let’s look for ways to reduce the amount of violence that we’re promoting, and that peace – especially at Easter – might reign in our hearts.”

The pontiff added that Easter should be a “time of peace, a time for much reflection”.

“But as we all know, once again in the world, in so many places, we are seeing so much suffering, so many deaths, even innocent children.”

“We make continuous appeals for peace, but unfortunately many people want to promote hatred and violence, war,” added Leo.

He called on everyone, but “especially Christians,” to “recognise that Christ is still crucified today, still suffers today in the innocent, especially those who are suffering from violence, hatred, and war”.

He called for prayers for the victims of war and for a “new, renewed peace”.

Leo also expressed hope that a truce might be observed for Easter.

The pope’s remarks follow comments he made in his Palm Sunday homily which were widely viewed as a rebuke of US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.

At a Christian worship service at the Pentagon last week, Hegseth prayed for “overwhelming violence” against enemies.

In his Palm Sunday homily from St Peter’s Square, Leo said: “God does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them, saying: ‘Even though you make many prayers, I will not listen: your hands are full of blood’.”

Leo added that Jesus was a “King of Peace who rejects war, whom no one can use to justify war”. 

Leo also said that when he reflects on the crucified Christ, “we hear the painful groans of all those who are oppressed by violence and are victims of war”.

Meanwhile, on Good Friday, Leo will personally carry the Cross during the traditional Friday Stations of the Cross at the Colosseum in Rome.

He told reporters this will be an “important sign because of what the Pope represents: a spiritual leader in today’s world, a voice to say that Christ still suffers. And I carry all these sufferings in my prayers as well.”