Pope Leo XIV has condemned the Iranian regime's killing of protesters but stated that he cannot support the US-Israeli war with Iran as a pastor. His remarks were made on board the papal plane returning from his trip to Africa and follow criticism from President Donald Trump for his stance on the Middle East conflict. The pope also addressed the topic of immigration, stating that some immigrants are being treated "worse than pets" and that the focus should be on preventing the death of so many innocents. He also highlighted the human cost of conflict, with a photo of a Lebanese Muslim boy who was killed in the war. Despite previous statements by the pope that he hoped President Trump would find an "off-ramp" to end the war in Iran, Leo has called on the North to help those in the Global South, and said the Holy See's diplomatic relations with countries with authoritarian regimes are not an approval level but an opportunity to promote justice and equality.