Pope Leo says ‘thanks be to God’ for interim US-Iran peace deal

CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy: Pope Leo on Tuesday praised the interim ​deal between the United States and Iran to end the regional war in the Middle East, saying “thanks be to God” that the ‌two powers ‌are set ​to ‌formalize ⁠their ​accord on Friday.
Leo, ⁠who drew the ire of US President Donald Trump after criticizing the Iran war, said he hoped the ⁠deal will end ‌the conflict ‌for good.
“There will ​still be ‌several points to settle, ‌but it is always better to do so through dialogue, through negotiations, and not ‌by returning to war,” the first US ⁠pope ⁠told journalists outside his residence in Castel Gandolfo, Italy.
“I hope that it truly is a solution to the war, that the war really is over, and that we can ​move ​forward,” he said.