#Iran – A letter written from the parents of the 168 children and adults killed in a February 28, 2026, US Tomahawk missile strike on Shajareh Tayyebeh Elementary School in Minab, Iran, was shared online through Christopher Hales. The letter details words of thanks towards Pope Leo XIV for his public calls to reduce violence, protect civilians, and pursue dialogue over weapons. They quote his messages and urge him to continue advocating for peace.
A U.S. Tomahawk missile strike on Shajareh Tayyebeh Elementary School in Minab, Iran, occurred on the first day of the Iran War with preliminary Pentagon findings cite outdated targeting data mistaking the separated civilian school for part of a former IRGC base. At this time, no White House apology has been issued for the event. From the moment that news of the bombing had occurred, President Trump specifically has refused to acknowledge U.S. culpability, dismissed early reports of the bombing as propaganda, suggested that Iran has done far worse under the current regime to their own people, all before coldly accepting the event as another tragedy of war. The official Pentagon report on the incident has not yet been completed or released, and is considered still under investigation at this time.
The letter from bereaved families in Hormozgan province invokes the Pope’s messages against escalating hate and urges continued advocacy for peace, amid broader international scrutiny labeling the incident a potential violation of humanitarian law. A rough English translation of key parts matches what’s in Hale’s thread. It was reportedly coordinated via Iranian interfaith channels and publicized recently. Pope Leo has spoken generally about civilian/children’s deaths in the Iran conflict and prayed for peace in the region.
Image: Shajareh Tayyebeh Elementary School in the aftermath of the bombing on February 28th, 2026.
