Palm Sunday mass: Pope Leo condemns using God to justify war
dw.com • • world
Key Points:
- Pope Leo XIV, during Palm Sunday Mass, firmly rejected claims that God justifies war, emphasizing that Jesus is the "King of Peace" who rejects all forms of warfare.
- Speaking to tens of thousands in St. Peter's Square, the pope cited biblical passages to condemn the use of religion to legitimize violence, urging peace instead.
- The pontiff called for an immediate ceasefire in the ongoing Iran war, expressing concern for Middle Eastern Christians suffering due to the conflict and their inability to fully observe holy rites.
- Pope Leo condemned indiscriminate military airstrikes, stating that airplanes should be "carriers of peace, never of war," though he did not directly mention the Iran conflict.
- In contrast, some US officials have employed Christian rhetoric to justify the US-Israeli strikes on Iran, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth praying for decisive military action during a Pentagon service.
