In the early hours of Friday morning, a dramatic and deadly shift unfolded in the long-simmering conflict between Israel and Iran. Israeli forces launched strikes on more than 100 targets deep inside Iran, including missile sites, nuclear facilities, and military leadership compounds. The attack, described by Iran as a “declaration of war,” has already claimed dozens of lives and sent shockwaves across the globe.
As Catholic faithful, we watch these events not only with concern for global stability but with a heavy heart for the countless innocent lives caught in the middle. “How much longer are we going to live in fear?” asked Ahmad Moadi, a 62-year-old resident of Tehran, after explosions shook his neighborhood. His cry is one that resonates with people of goodwill everywhere, echoing the Gospel’s call to peace and justice in a world broken by conflict.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the operation—named Rising Lion—was aimed at “rolling back the Iranian threat to Israel’s very survival.” In a televised address, he stated, “We struck at the heart of Iran’s nuclear enrichment programme. We struck at the heart of Iran’s nuclear weaponisation programme. We targeted Iran’s main enrichment facility in Natanz… We also struck at the heart of Iran’s ballistic missile programme” (The Guardian, June 13, 2025).
In response, Iran launched over 100 drones toward Israel, while its Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, promised “severe punishment.” The Fars news agency reported at least 78 killed and more than 300 wounded. Israeli officials claim that among those killed were high-ranking Iranian commanders and six nuclear scientists, including Fereydoun Abbasi, a former head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization.
The situation has prompted fears of a broader regional war. President Donald Trump praised the strikes as “excellent,” warning that “further strikes would be more brutal unless Tehran agreed to back down” (The Guardian). While U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio insisted the action was “unilateral,” Trump later told the Wall Street Journal that the U.S. had been aware of the plans, suggesting coordination.
As the conflict intensifies, hospitals across Israel have been moved into emergency mode. Haaretz reports that critical operations have been transferred to fortified underground facilities, and non-essential procedures have been cancelled. Schools are closed nationwide, and Israeli citizens have been ordered to stay near bomb shelters. In the U.S., cities like New York have increased NYPD presence around Jewish locations as a precaution.
Our Catholic faith calls us to stand apart from the violence, not in indifference, but in intercession. As Pope St. John Paul II once said, “War is always a defeat for humanity.” Even as world leaders invoke national defense, the words of Christ challenge us to imagine a peace “not as the world gives” (John 14:27).
The Israeli strikes have drawn condemnation from across the region, including Saudi Arabia, while western governments like the UK have urged de-escalation. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed the Natanz facility was hit but stated that “no increased radiation” had been detected so far. Yet the deeper danger may lie in the unraveling of diplomacy. Talks between the U.S. and Iran, scheduled to take place in Oman, now appear in doubt.
Netanyahu insisted that Iran had been advancing toward nuclear weapon production, saying, “If not stopped, Iran could produce a nuclear weapon in a very short time… It could be within a few months, less than a year.” Citing history, he added, “The hardest decision any leader has to make is sworn in danger before it is fully materialised… just as the allies failed to act in time against Nazi aggression” (The Guardian).
But for Catholic observers, another history stands before us: a history of saints, martyrs, and peacemakers who have stood amid chaos to build bridges of mercy. As the situation unfolds, let us not become numb to the suffering, nor take sides in hatred, but instead pray and act for a cease to bloodshed.
May Our Lady, Queen of Peace, intercede for all who live under the threat of war today, especially the innocent and the vulnerable. May cooler heads and compassionate hearts prevail—before another child goes to sleep afraid, another family grieves a loss, or another bomb falls in a city desperate for healing.
Sources: The Guardian, Haaretz, Wall Street Journal, Iranian state media, Fars News Agency, IAEA, and official government statements.
