Pope Leo: God Rejects Prayers of Leaders Who Wage Wars

(Patria) - Pope Leo on Sunday said God rejects the prayers of leaders who start wars and have "blood-stained hands," in unusually strong remarks as the war in Iran entered its second month, Reuters reported.

Addressing tens of thousands of people in St. Peter's Square on Palm Sunday, the celebration that opens the holy week before Easter for the world's 1.4 billion Catholics, the pope called the conflict "terrible" and said Jesus could not be used to justify any wars.

"This is our God: Jesus, King of Peace, who rejects war, whom no one can use to justify war," said Leo, the first American pope, to the assembled crowd in the bright sunshine.

"(Jesus) does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them, saying: 'Even if you pray a lot, I will not listen: your hands are full of blood'," he said, quoting a biblical passage.

Leo did not name any specific leaders, but he has intensified his criticism of the war in Iran in recent weeks.

During an appeal at the end of Sunday's celebration, the pope expressed regret that Christians in the Middle East were "suffering the consequences of the terrible conflict" and might not be able to celebrate Easter.

The pope, known for his careful choice of words, has repeatedly called for an immediate ceasefire in the conflict and said on Monday that military airstrikes were indiscriminate and should be banned.

Some U.S. officials have invoked Christian narratives to justify joint U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28 that began the expansion of the war.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who began leading Christian prayer services at the Pentagon, prayed at a service on Wednesday for "enormous violence of action against those who do not deserve mercy."

In his sermon on Sunday, Pope Leo referred to a biblical passage in which Jesus, about to be arrested before his crucifixion, rebukes one of his followers for striking the person arresting him with a sword.

"(Jesus) did not arm himself, nor did he defend himself, nor did he wage any war," said Leo.

"He revealed the blessed face of God, who always rejects violence. Instead of saving himself, he allowed himself to be nailed to the cross."

Tags: Vatican, Pope Leo, USA, Iran, Wars