Iranian cleric presses Pope Leo XIV to denounce killing of Khamenei

An influential Iranian cleric has urged Pope Leo XIV to publicly condemn the killing of Iran’s former supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, arguing that silence from global religious figures risks normalising attacks on spiritual authorities.

The appeal came in a letter written by senior Iranian scholar Alireza Arafi, who asked the Catholic leader to take a clear moral position on the killing that has deepened tensions across the Middle East. The letter, which was reported by Iran’s state broadcaster Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), framed the incident as not only a political assassination but also an assault on religious leadership.

Arafi said the attack should be condemned unequivocally by global religious authorities, particularly the head of the Catholic Church, whose moral influence extends far beyond Christian communities.

According to excerpts from the letter cited by Iranian media, Arafi wrote that the killing represents a grave violation of human dignity and urged the pope to “raise a loud and clear voice” against what he described as crimes against humanity. He argued that targeting religious figures undermines the moral foundations shared across faith traditions and contradicts values promoted within Christianity itself.

The call places the Vatican in a delicate diplomatic position as the Middle East continues to face rising instability and competing narratives surrounding the late Iranian leader’s death.

A religious and political appeal

Arafi occupies a powerful position within Iran’s religious establishment. He oversees the country’s network of Islamic seminaries and is a senior member of the influential Guardian Council, the body responsible for vetting legislation and approving candidates for political office.

Following Khamenei’s death in late February, Arafi was also part of the temporary leadership structure that guided the country through the immediate transition period.

In his letter, he framed the pope’s potential response as an opportunity to defend shared ethical principles across religions rather than a political intervention. By condemning the attack, Arafi suggested, the Vatican could reinforce global norms protecting religious leaders from violence and strengthen interfaith solidarity at a time of heightened geopolitical tension.

The appeal reflects Iran’s broader effort to mobilise international religious voices after the assassination, which Iranian officials have described as a destabilising act with implications far beyond the country’s borders.

Khamenei, who had served as Iran’s supreme leader for decades, was killed in an attack on February 28 that shocked both the Iranian political establishment and the wider Muslim world.

Vatican warns against erosion of global norms

So far, the Vatican has not issued a direct condemnation of Khamenei’s killing. However, the pope recently expressed concern about the escalating violence across the Middle East and offered prayers for those affected by the growing conflict.

Earlier this week, Pope Leo XIV spoke of his “profound sorrow” for victims caught in the expanding crisis and emphasised the need for restraint and respect for international law.

Officials in the Holy See have also warned about what they see as a gradual erosion of global legal norms, particularly in conflict zones where targeted attacks and political violence have become increasingly common.

While the Vatican traditionally avoids aligning itself too closely with geopolitical disputes, it has repeatedly used moral appeals to encourage dialogue and the peaceful resolution of conflicts.

Meanwhile, Iran has already moved to stabilise its leadership structure. The country’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the slain cleric, was appointed after a short transitional period following the attack.

His appointment marked the end of the interim leadership phase that included Arafi and other senior figures in Iran’s political and religious hierarchy.

As tensions continue to ripple across the region, Arafi’s letter highlights how religious diplomacy is increasingly intersecting with global politics, placing faith leaders like Pope Leo XIV under growing pressure to respond to events that extend far beyond their own congregations.

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