Pope Leo says aerial military strikes should be banned

VATICAN CITY, March ‌23 (Reuters) - Pope ​Leo ​sharply criticised aerial bombardments on Monday, saying they are indiscriminate and ‌should be banned, in his latest ⁠anti-war comments as the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran ‌enters its fourth week.

Leo, ‌the first U.S. pope, did not specifically mention the expanding conflict in a meeting ​with executives and staff from Italy's ITA Airways, but he strongly decried ⁠the use of airpower in warfare.

"No one should have to ​fear that threats of death and destruction might come from the sky," ​said the pope.

"After the tragic ‌experiences of the 20th century, aerial bombings should have been banned ⁠forever," he said. "Yet they still exist … this is not progress; it is regression!"

The pope ⁠has called repeatedly for a ceasefire in the Iran ​war. On Sunday he called the conflict a "scandal to the whole human family."

ITA Airways, controlled by Germany's ‌Lufthansa and the successor to bankrupt national flag carrier Alitalia, is ‌the airline that usually flies the ⁠pope out of ‌Rome when he ​makes overseas trips.

(Reporting by Joshua McElwee; Editing by Alvise Armellini and Hugh ‌Lawson)

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