Pope Leo has issued a pointed rebuke to leaders who wage war, stating that God ignores their prayers because their 'hands are full of blood'. The remarks, made during Palm Sunday mass in St Peter's Square, appeared to target the Trump administration following US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth's prayer for violence against enemies 'who deserve no mercy'.
The pontiff told tens of thousands of worshippers that Jesus 'rejects war' and cannot be used to justify conflict. Quoting the Bible, he said: 'Even though you make many prayers, I will not listen: your hands are full of blood.' The comments come as thousands of US troops arrive in the Middle East amid escalating tensions between Iran, Israel and the US.
Hegseth, a member of a church affiliated with the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches, had prayed for 'overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy' at a Christian worship service in Washington last week. The pope's homily also lamented that Christians in the region may not be able to celebrate Easter due to the conflict.
In a separate incident, Israeli police prevented Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem to conduct mass. The US, France and Italy criticised the decision, with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni calling it 'an offence not only to the faithful but to any community that respects religious freedom'. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later instructed authorities to grant the cardinal full access.
