Pope Leo XIV Issues Strong Rebuke Against War at Vatican Peace Vigil
Pope Leo XIV presided over a prayer vigil and rosary for peace in St Peter's Basilica at the Vatican on 11 April, delivering a powerful message that condemned the "delusion of omnipotence" driving global conflicts. The first US-born pope stepped into the international political arena during evening prayers, emphasizing that prayer serves as "a bulwark against that delusion of omnipotence that surrounds us and is becoming increasingly unpredictable and aggressive."
Direct Appeal to World Leaders
Addressing world leaders who decide to go to war, Pope Leo XIV declared, "To them we cry out: stop! It is time for peace! Sit at the table of dialogue and mediation – not at the table where rearmament is planned and deadly actions are decided." He added, "Enough of the idolatry of self and money! Enough of the display of power! Enough of war! True strength is shown in serving life." While not explicitly mentioning the US-Israeli war with Iran or naming specific countries, his remarks were interpreted as his strongest condemnation yet of the ongoing conflict.
Context of US-Iran Negotiations
The pope's comments coincided with face-to-face negotiations between US and Iranian delegations in Pakistan, aimed at shoring up a fragile truce and achieving a permanent end to hostilities. The US delegation was led by Vice-President JD Vance, a convert to Catholicism, whose friend, senior Pentagon official Elbridge Colby, had previously rebuked the Vatican's ambassador over the pope's January statements. In January, Pope Leo XIV had criticized a shift from diplomacy based on dialogue to one based on force, which reportedly angered Pentagon officials.
Religious Justifications for War Challenged
Pope Leo XIV's tone appeared directed at Trump administration officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has invoked Christian faith to frame the US as a righteous nation in a holy war. The pope countered this by stating, "Even the holy Name of God, the God of life, is being dragged into discourses of death." He emphasized that those who pray are aware of their limitations and do not engage in violence, warning against idolizing power.
International Participation and Broader Messages
The vigil, announced during the pope's Easter Urbi et Orbi message, drew thousands to St Peter's Basilica and was joined by parishes worldwide. Attendees included Laura Hochla, deputy chief of mission at the US embassy to the Holy See, and the archbishop of Tehran, Belgian cardinal Dominique Joseph Mathieu. Pope Leo XIV has escalated his criticism in recent weeks, from initial muted appeals to outright condemnation, such as calling Donald Trump's threat to annihilate Iranian civilization "truly unacceptable" on Palm Sunday.
Social Media and Ongoing Calls for Peace
On Friday, the pope posted on his official X account, "God does not bless any conflict. Anyone who is a disciple of Christ, the Prince of Peace, is never on the side of those who once wielded the sword and today drop bombs." He highlighted the spread of violence in sacred places and condemned the trivialization of evil for profit. On Saturday, he renewed his call for prayers to "break the demonic cycle of evil" and build a world based on dignity and forgiveness, rather than vengeance and weaponry.
