Parents of Minab school martyrs write letter to Pope Leo

Parents of 160 victims thank Pope Leo and urge the world to act as outrage grows over the Minab school tragedy.

In a deeply emotional appeal that has drawn international attention, parents of children killed in a reported airstrike on a school in Iran’s southern city of Minab have written a letter to Pope Leo, thanking him for speaking out against violence and calling for global action to protect civilians in conflict zones.

According to Iranian media reports and statements attributed to the affected families, the strike on 28 February targeted a local school, resulting in the deaths of more than 160 girls and leaving dozens injured. The incident has sparked widespread condemnation within Iran and renewed debate over the protection of civilians under international law.

In their letter to Pope Leo, the grieving parents expressed gratitude for what they described as his “moral courage” in advocating for peace. They said the Pope’s message urging world leaders to “lay down weapons” had given voice to their suffering at a time when they felt ignored by powerful nations.

“Your words have carried our pain beyond borders,” the families reportedly wrote. “We hope your call for peace will be heard where political silence has replaced humanity.”

The parents also voiced frustration over what they see as the lack of accountability from international actors. In particular, they criticized the absence of any formal apology or statement from the White House regarding the incident, saying the silence had deepened their grief and sense of injustice.

As of now, there has been no independent verification of the full circumstances surrounding the strike, and conflicting narratives continue to emerge from different sides. The United States and Israel have not publicly confirmed involvement in any such operation in Minab, while Iranian officials have blamed foreign military actions for the tragedy.

The reported incident has reignited global discussions about the laws of war, particularly the obligation to protect civilians and educational institutions during armed conflict. Human rights observers warn that if the claims are confirmed, the attack would represent one of the most severe violations of child protection norms in recent years.

Meanwhile, Pope Leo’s reported response continues to resonate widely, with peace advocates urging renewed diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation in already volatile regions.