Pope Leo XIV issues tough warning to leaders fueling wars
Pope Leo XIV (Photo: Getty Images)
Pope Leo XIV stated on Sunday that God rejects the prayers of leaders who start wars and have hands full of blood. This unusually strong statement came as the war with Iran entered its second month, according to Reuters.
Addressing tens of thousands of people in St. Peter’s Square on Palm Sunday, the feast that opens Holy Week for 1.4 billion Catholics, the pontiff called the conflict “horrific” and said that Jesus cannot be used to justify war.
“This is our God: Jesus, King of Peace, who rejects war, whom no one can use to justify war,” said Leo XIV.
He added, citing the Bible, that Jesus does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them.
"Even though you make many prayers, I will not listen: your hands are full of blood'," Pope Leo XIV quoted from the Holy Scriptures.
Pope’s statements on Iran
The Pope did not name any specific world leaders, but in recent weeks, he has increasingly criticized the war with Iran.
At the end of his Mass, he expressed regret that Christians in the Middle East suffer from the consequences of this terrible conflict and may not be able to celebrate Easter.
The pontiff, who usually chooses his words carefully, has repeatedly called for an immediate ceasefire and previously stated that airstrikes are indiscriminate and should be banned.
In his sermon, the head of the Catholic Church also referenced a biblical episode in which Jesus, before his arrest, stopped his disciple who struck a man with a sword during the attempt to seize him.
"(Jesus) did not arm himself, or defend himself, or fight any war," Leo said. "He revealed the gentle face of God, who always rejects violence. Rather than saving himself, he allowed himself to be nailed to the cross," Pope Leo XIV concluded.
Christian rhetoric for war
Reuters notes that some US officials have used Christian rhetoric to justify joint US and Israeli strikes on Iran, which began on February 28 and led to an escalation of the conflict.
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegset, who conducts Christian prayer events at the Pentagon, during one such service, prayed for the overwhelming power of violence against enemies who do not deserve mercy.
In January, Pope Leo XIV addressed Russia, calling for a halt to attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and emphasizing the humanitarian consequences for civilians.
Shortly afterward, the pontiff expressed solidarity with the Ukrainian people and sent humanitarian aid, including medicines and generators.
