Rome — In my strongest words ever, Pope Leo XIV Saturday condemned the “illusion of omnipotence” that is promoting US-Israel war in Iran And demanded political leaders to stop and hold peace talks.
Leo presided over an evening prayer service at St. Peter’s Basilica on the same day that the United States and Iran began face-to-face talks in Pakistan and a fragile ceasefire was held.
The first American-born Pope in history did not mention the United States or President Donald Trump in his prayer, which was planned before the talks were announced. But Leo’s tone and message appeared to be directed at Trump and US officials, who have claimed US military superiority and justified the war in religious terms.
“Enough of the idolatry of self and money!” Leo said. “Enough displays of power! Enough wars!”
In the basilica pews was the Archbishop of Tehran, Cardinal Dominique Joseph Mathieu of Belgium. The US Embassy said the US was represented in the diplomatic corps by its deputy chief of mission Laura Hochla.
In the first weeks of the war, the Chicago-born Leo was initially reluctant to publicly condemn the violence and limited his comments to faint appeals for peace and negotiations. But Leo intensified his criticism from Palm Sunday. And this week, he said Trump threatened to destroy Iranian civilization. “Really unacceptable” And called for maintaining dialogue.
On Saturday, Leo called on all people of good will to pray for peace and demand an end to the war from their political leaders. The evening vigil in Rome, which included readings of Scripture and meditative recitation of the Rosary prayers, was taking place while local prayer services were being held simultaneously in the United States and beyond.
Praying for peace is a way to “break the demonic cycle of evil” to build the Kingdom of God where there will be no swords, drones or “unjust advantages,” Leo said.
He said, “It is here that we find a protective shield against the illusion of omnipotence that surrounds us and is becoming increasingly unpredictable and aggressive.” “Even the holy name of God, the God of life, is being dragged into discourses of death.”
Leaders have used religion to justify their actions in war. American officials and especially Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth To defeat its enemies, America has taken the help of its Christian religion to establish itself as a Christian nation.
Leo has said that God does not bless any war, and certainly not those who drop bombs.
Leo presided over the service, sitting at the side of the altar on a white throne, wearing a formal red hat and religious stole, and praying with a rosary in his hands. Several priests and nuns twirl rosary beads during the “Our Father” and “Hail Mary” prayers.
The Vatican is particularly concerned about the escalation of Israel’s war against Hezbollah lebanonConsidering the plight of Christian communities in the South.
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