Pope Leo XIV kicked off the Catholic Church’s Holy Week with an extended Palm Sunday prayer for mercy for those afflicted by war, a subject that many viewed as a not-so-subtle jab at the Trump administration as the conflict between the U.S. and Iran nears the end of its first month.
Pope Leo, who was chosen to serve as the Catholic Church’s first American pope last year, has not shied away from speaking out against President Donald Trump, and in particular his immigration agenda.
“Jesus is the King of Peace, who rejects war, whom no one can use to justify war,” Pope Leo said during a Palm Sunday Mass at the Vatican on Sunday. “He does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them.”
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In his homily, Pope Leo spoke about Jesus’ desire to spread peace over violence.
“He remains steadfast in meekness, while others are stirring up violence,” he said. “He offers Himself to embrace humanity, even as others raise swords and clubs.”
“He revealed the gentle face of God, who always rejects violence,” he added.
The pope’s address was a pointed one, as the war between the U.S. and Iran continued to escalate over the weekend — despite insistence from the White House that negotiations are going smoothly.
Pope Leo has previously sparred with Republican lawmakers over how to interpret Bible passages, which members of the administration have used to justify the president’s mass deportation agenda.
Sunday’s prayer was a marked contrast to one offered last week by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. Speaking at the first Pentagon Christian worship service on Friday, Hegseth said that he was praying for “overwhelming violence” toward Iran and other adversaries of the U.S.
“Let every round find its mark against the enemies of righteousness and our great nation,” Hegseth said at the virtual event. “Give them wisdom in every decision, endurance for the trial ahead, unbreakable unity, and overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy.”
Reciting from the Book of Psalms, he continued, “I pursued my enemies and overtook them, and did not turn back till they were consumed.”
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