ROME (AP) — In his strongest phrases but, Pope Leo XIV on Saturday denounced the “delusion of omnipotence” that’s fueling the U.S.-Israel war in Iran and demanded political leaders cease and negotiate peace.
Leo presided over a night prayer service in St. Peter’s Basilica on the identical day the US and Iran started face-to-face negotiations in Pakistan and as a fragile ceasefire held.
Historical past’s first U.S.-born pope didn’t point out the US or President Donald Trump in his prayer, which was deliberate earlier than the talks had been introduced. However Leo’s tone and message appeared directed at Trump and U.S. officers, who’ve boasted of U.S. army superiority and justified the conflict in non secular phrases.
“Sufficient of the idolatry of self and cash!” Leo stated. “Sufficient of the show of energy! Sufficient of conflict!”
Within the basilica pews was the archbishop of Tehran, Belgian Cardinal Dominique Joseph Mathieu. The U.S. was represented within the diplomatic corps by its deputy chief of mission, Laura Hochla, the U.S. Embassy stated.
Within the first weeks of the conflict, the Chicago-born Leo was initially reluctant to publicly condemn the violence and restricted his feedback to muted appeals for peace and dialogue. However Leo stepped up his criticism beginning on Palm Sunday. And this week, he stated Trump’s menace to annihilate Iranian civilization was “truly unacceptable” and referred to as for dialogue to prevail.
On Saturday, Leo referred to as for all individuals of fine will to wish for peace and demand an finish to conflict from their political leaders. The night vigil in Rome, which featured Scripture readings and meditative recitation of the Rosary prayers, was going down as simultaneous native prayer providers had been being held within the U.S. and past.
Praying for peace, Leo stated, was a method to “break the demonic cycle of evil” to construct as a substitute the Kingdom of God the place there are not any swords, drones or “unjust revenue.”
“It’s right here that we discover a bulwark in opposition to that delusion of omnipotence that surrounds us and is turning into more and more unpredictable and aggressive,” he stated. “Even the holy Title of God, the God of life, is being dragged into discourses of loss of life.”
Leaders have used faith to justify their actions within the conflict. U.S. officers and particularly Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have invoked their Christian religion to forged the U.S. as a Christian nation making an attempt to conquer its foes.
Leo has stated God doesn’t bless any conflict, and positively not those that drop bombs.
Leo presided over the service sitting off to the aspect of the altar on a white throne, carrying his formal purple cape and liturgical stole and praying with a Rosary in his arms. Most of the clergymen and nuns within the pews fingered Rosary beads because the “Our Father” and “Hail Mary” prayers had been recited.
The Vatican is especially involved in regards to the spillover of Israel’s conflict in opposition to Hezbollah in Lebanon, given the plight of Christian communities within the south.
___
Related Press faith protection receives assist by the AP’s collaboration with The Dialog US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely answerable for this content material.
Nicole Winfield, The Related Press