Leaders on all sides of the Iran war have used religion to justify their actions. U.S. officials, especially Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, have invoked their Christian faith to cast the war as a Christian nation trying to vanquish its…
Pope Leo XIV presides over Mass in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on the Catholic feast of Palm Sunday, commemorating Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem, Sunday, March 29, 2026. ROME — Pope Leo XIV said Sunday that God doesn’t listen to the prayers of those who make war or cite God to justify their violence, as he prayed especially for Christians“Brothers and sisters, this is our God: Jesus, King of Peace, who rejects war, whom no one can use to justify war,” Leo said.
“He does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them, saying: ‘Even though you make many prayers, I will not listen: your hands are full of blood.’”have invoked their Christian faith to cast the war as a Christian nation trying to vanquish its foes with military might.Palm Sunday marks Jesus’ triumphant entrance into Jerusalem in the time leading up to his crucifixion, which Christians observe on Good Friday, and resurrection on Easter Sunday. In a special blessing at the end of Mass, Leo said he was praying especially for Christians in the Middle East who are “suffering the consequences of an atrocious conflict. In many cases, they cannot live fully the rites of these holy days.” Pope Leo XIV presides over Mass in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on the Catholic feast of Palm Sunday, commemorating Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem, Sunday, March 29, 2026. Pope Leo XIV presides over Mass in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on the Catholic feast of Palm Sunday, commemorating Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem, Sunday, March 29, 2026. Pope Leo XIV presides over Mass in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on the Catholic feast of Palm Sunday, commemorating Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem, Sunday, March 29, 2026. Pope Leo XIV presides over Mass in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on the Catholic feast of Palm Sunday, commemorating Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem, Sunday, March 29, 2026. Pope Leo XIV presides over Mass in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on the Catholic feast of Palm Sunday, commemorating Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem, Sunday, March 29, 2026. Pope Leo XIV presides over Mass in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on the Catholic feast of Palm Sunday, commemorating Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem, Sunday, March 29, 2026. the Catholic Church’s top leadership from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to celebrate Palm Sunday Mass in private. It was thechurch leaders were prevented from celebrating Palm Sunday at the place where Christians believe Jesus was crucified, the Patriarchate said. Israeli police said the request for access from Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa and others had been denied, since all holy sites in the Old City of Jerusalem were closed to worshippers for security reasons. A police statement said freedom of worship would continue to be upheld “subject to necessary restrictions.” Following a torrent of criticism, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would try to partially open the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the coming days. Leo said that during Holy Week, Christians cannot forget how many people around the world are suffering as Christ did. “Their trials appeal to the conscience of all. Let us raise our prayers to the Prince of Peace so that he may support people wounded by war and open concrete paths of reconciliation and peace,” Leo said.For many people at the Vatican, the start of Holy Week this year brings back memories of the final suffering days of Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday. When Holy Week opened last year, Francis was still recovering at the Vatican after a five-week hospital stay for double pneumonia. He had delegated the liturgical celebrations to others, butto greet the faithful from the loggia of St. Peter’s Square. Most poignantly, he then made what became his final popemobile loop around the piazza., later told Vatican Media that Francis had told him: “Thank you for bringing me back to the square” for the final salute.During his 12-year pontificate, Francis famously celebrated the Holy Thursday ritual by traveling to Rome-area prisons and refugee centers to wash the feet of people most on society’s margins. His aim was to drive home the ritual’s message of service and humility, and he would frequently muse during his Holy Thursday homilies “Why them and not me?” Francis’ gesture had been praised as a tangible evidence of his belief that the church must go to the peripheries to find those most in need of God’s love and mercy. But some critics bristled at the annual outings, especially since Francis would also wash the feet of Muslims and people of other faiths.Leo, history’s first U.S.-born pope, is returning the Holy Thursday foot-washing tradition to the basilica of St. John Lateran, where popes performed it for decades. The Vatican hasn’t yet said who will participate, though Popes Benedict XVI and John Paul II normally washed the feet of 12 priests. On Friday, Leo is due to preside over the Good Friday procession at Rome’s Colosseum commemorating Christ’s Passion and crucifixion. Saturday brings the late night Easter Vigil, during which Leo will baptize new Catholics, followed a few hours later by Easter Sunday when Christians commemorate the resurrection of Jesus. Leo will celebrate Easter Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s Square and then deliver his Easter blessing from the loggia of the basilica.Iranian attack on Saudi base injures at least 10 US troops and damages several planesRubio denies Zelenskyy’s claim that the US asked Ukraine to cede land to Russia for security deal‘No Kings’ protesters in Southern California among 8 million demonstrators across the U.S.Inside Paul McCartney’s Friday night performance at LA’s Fonda TheatreSwinging gates installed on 101 Freeway ahead of Saturday’s ‘No Kings’ protestVoices from ‘No Kings’ protests around Southern CaliforniaLaid-off KTLA weathercaster Kacey Montoya will return for a few more weeks
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Pope Leo XIV rejects claims that God justifies war in Palm Sunday Mass messageBy NICOLE WINFIELD ROME (AP) — Pope Leo XIV on Sunday rejected claims that God justifies war and prayed especially for Christians in the Middle East during a Palm Sunday Mass before tens of thousands of people in St. Peter’s…
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Pope Leo XIV rejects claims that God justifies war in Palm Sunday Mass messagePope Leo XIV rejected claims that God justifies war and prayed especially for Christians in the Middle East during a Palm Sunday Mass before tens of thousands of people in St. Peter's Square.
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Pope Leo XIV rejects claims that God justifies war in Palm Sunday Mass messagePope Leo on Sunday rejected claims that God justifies war and prayed especially for Christians in the Middle East during a Palm Sunday Mass before tens of thousands of people in St. Peter’s Square.
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