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In a Palm Sunday homily treated by legacy media as a direct moral indictment of President Trump\u2019s foreign policy \u2014 and possibly a criticism of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth \u2014 Pope Leo XIV declared on Sunday that God \u201cdoes not listen\u201d to leaders who wage war while claiming His name.<\/p>\n
Speaking to tens of thousands in St. Peter\u2019s Square amid the ongoing war between Iran and a joint coalition of the United States and Israel, the first American Pope said<\/a> that Jesus \u201cdoes not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them, saying: \u2018Even though you make many prayers, I will not listen: your hands are full of blood,\u2019\u201d citing a biblical passage.<\/p>\n The Pope did not specifically name any world leaders, but he has been ramping up criticism of \u200bthe Iran war in recent weeks. President Trump has framed the intervention in Iran as a necessary defense of Western civilization.<\/p>\n Earlier this month, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, a devout Christian, said at a press conference:<\/p>\n My 13-year-old son popped into my office last night while I was editing these remarks. He asked about the war and the families I met at Dover. And I looked at him and I said, \u201cThey died for you, son, so that your generation doesn\u2019t have to deal with a nuclear Iran.\u201d It\u2019s the truth, and they did \u00a0\u2026 \u00a0So to the families who said \u201cFinish this,\u201d we will. And I say the same to every American who wants peace through strength: May Almighty God continue to bless our troops in this fight. And again, to the American people, please pray for them every day, on bended knee, with your family, in your schools, in your churches, in the name of Jesus Christ. To the troops: \u00a0Keep going. And Godspeed.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Sunday was not the first time the pontiff addressed the hostilities against Iran.<\/p>\n
During an appeal at the end of Sunday\u2019s celebration, the pope lamented that \u200cChristians \u2060in the Middle East \u201care suffering the consequences of an atrocious conflict\u201d and may not be able to celebrate Easter.<\/p>\n\n