Archbishop of Tehran-Isfahan Cardinal Dominique Mathieu met with the pope March 11 after witnessing the first days of military clashes in the Iranian capital.
Mathieu had been leading the Roman Catholic Church in Iran, which has about 2,000 members, despite the ongoing anti-government protests, U.S. and Israeli threats against the regime, and his own recovery from serious health issues.
Archbishop of Tehran-Isfahan Cardinal Dominique Mathieu meets with Pope Leo XIV March 11, 2026, after witnessing the first days of military clashes in the Iranian capital. | Credit: Vatican Media
Italy closed its embassy in Tehran, and the cardinal’s residence is on the grounds, so the archbishop had to leave with the diplomatic representation. He then took a flight from Azerbaijan to Rome, arriving last weekend.
Mathieu’s whereabouts had been unknown after President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered joint strikes on Iran on Feb. 28 that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. In response, Iran launched strikes on U.S. bases and forces, Israel, and the Gulf states.
The 62-year-old Belgian cardinal, a member of the Order of Friars Minor Conventuals, became archbishop of Iran in 2021 and was named a cardinal by Pope Francis in 2024.
