Pope Leo XIV Delivers Stern Rebuke Over Iran War, Condemns Religious Justification
Pope Leo XIV has issued a powerful new criticism of war, specifically targeting the ongoing conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel. In a social media post on Friday, the pontiff, who was born in Chicago and is the first American to lead the Catholic Church, emphasized that "God does not bless any conflict" and denounced attempts to use religion to glorify military actions.
Social Media Statement Names No Names but Hints at US Leadership
The pope's post on his official X account did not mention any individuals or countries by name, but it appeared to be an oblique response to the Trump administration's repeated references to God while conducting Operation Epic Fury in Iran. Leo wrote, "Anyone who is a disciple of Christ, the Prince of Peace, is never on the side of those who once wielded the sword and today drop bombs." He added that "military action will not create space for freedom or times of #Peace, which comes only from the patient promotion of coexistence and dialogue among peoples."
Since the US and Israel began strikes on Iran in February, Pope Leo XIV has consistently spoken out against the fighting in the Middle East. His latest comments come amid heightened tensions and religious rhetoric from US officials.
Defense Secretary's Religious Language Draws Scrutiny
The defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, has particularly portrayed the conflict in religious terms, describing it as a holy war carried out "in the name of Jesus Christ." Hegseth, who has a long association with Christian nationalism, compared the rescue of a crew member from a downed F-15E fighter jet in Iran over Easter weekend to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. He told reporters, "Shot down on a Friday, Good Friday, hidden in a cave, a crevice, all of Saturday and rescued on Sunday, flown out of Iran as the sun was rising on Easter Sunday, a pilot reborn. All home and accounted for. A nation rejoicing. God is good."
On Friday, the pope also wrote, "Absurd and inhuman violence is spreading ferociously through the sacred places of the Christian East. Profaned by the blasphemy of war and the brutality of business, with no regard for people's lives, which are considered at most collateral damage of self-interest." He continued, "No gain can be worth the life of the weakest, children, or families. No cause can justify the shedding of innocent blood."
Trump Administration's Divine Claims Face Criticism
Donald Trump and other senior officials, including Hegseth, have used religious language and implied that the US is engaged in a divinely supported mission, while simultaneously promising "death and destruction." The US president told reporters last week that he believes God backs US actions in Iran. After Trump said earlier in the week that "a whole civilization will die tonight" if Iran did not reopen the Strait of Hormuz and comply with his demands, Leo called the threats "truly unacceptable."
The violence from the war on Iran has already claimed thousands of lives across the Middle East since coordinated US and Israeli attacks began on 28 February. Back in March, during a Palm Sunday mass in St Peter's Square, the pope referred to the fighting involving Iran, Israel, and the US as "atrocious" and emphasized that Jesus should not be invoked to justify war. He made those comments as thousands of US troops were arriving in the region and shortly after Hegseth had prayed for violence against enemies he said deserved "no mercy." Pope Leo also said that God does not listen to the prayers of leaders who pursue war and have "hands full of blood."
This ongoing dialogue highlights the deep divisions over the role of religion in modern warfare, with the pope positioning himself as a vocal advocate for peace and dialogue over military escalation.
