The Catholic Primate of All Ireland Archbishop Sean Brady has said it is difficult to justify a war in Iraq.
In a letter to British Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair he said, based on known facts, he found it difficult to justify "since adequate evidence of an imminent and serious attack (from the country) is lacking."
Archbishop Brady gave the letter to Mr Blair last Tuesday, when they met along with other Irish churchmen in London.
"If recourse to war were to be deemed necessary, this should take place within the framework of the United Nations after due consideration of the consequences for Iraqi civilians and regional and local stability," he wrote.
Archbishop Brady said a war against Iraq could have unpredictable consequences for the stability of the Middle East.
"It could provoke the kinds of attacks that it is intended to prevent and provide motivation for future terrorist action which, at present, may not be in existence," he wrote.
In his archdiocese of Dublin, Cardinal Desmond Connell asked for "fervent prayers" that world leaders and those with influence do all they can to avoid war.
"The continuing talk of war in the Middle East is very worrying," he said.
"Peace cannot be assured by force of weapons alone. This has sadly been our experience here in Ireland," Cardinal Connell said.
"International law, honest dialogue, solidarity and diplomacy between the nations are means of striving for peace worthy of human beings," he said.
AFP