Pope condemns killing of protesters in Iran, reaffirms stance against war

By Joshua McElwee ABOARD THE PAPAL FLIGHT, April 23 (Reuters) – Pope Leo on Thursday firmly condemned the killing of protesters in Iran, after U.S. President Donald Trump criticized the Catholic leader last week for not doing so while speaking out against the U.S.-Israel war with Iran. Leo, the first U.S. pope, also decried the deaths of “so many” civilians in the war and lamented the collapse of U.S.-Iran peace talks in comments aboard his return flight to Rome after a four-nation Africa tour.