Statement Urging Dialogue and Diplomacy Amid Escalation of Violence in the Middle East
March 3, 2026
On February 28, the United States and Israel launched military strikes on Iran, followed by retaliation across the Middle East. This rapid escalation of violence places countless innocent lives at risk and deepens instability in an already fragile region.
As the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, U.S. East-West Province, we are guided by the Gospel and by the Church’s consistent teaching that peace is built not through force, but through justice, dialogue and respect for human dignity. We echo the words of Pope Leo XIV: “Peace is not built with reciprocal threats nor with weapons…but only through a reasonable, authentic, responsible dialogue.”
Violence cannot create the just and lasting peace to which humanity longs. We urge our nation’s leaders to exercise moral courage, to pursue diplomatic solutions, and to resist further escalation.
As women of faith and hope, we pray for the protection of all people in the region, for an end to the cycle of violence, and for a renewed commitment to dialogue that reflects our shared humanity and our Gospel call to be peacemakers.
