VATICAN CITY, Apr 11 (Reuters) – Pope Leo made an impassioned appeal to world leaders to end what he called the ‘madness of war’ this Saturday, the day top US and Iranian officials met in Pakistan to discuss an end to the six-week-old conflict.
At a special prayer vigil in St. Peter’s Basilica, the first American pope condemned the use of religious language to justify war and said that the ‘illusion of omnipotence that surrounds us is becoming increasingly unpredictable.’
Making a direct appeal to world leaders, he said: ‘Stop! It’s time for peace! Sit at the table of dialogue and mediation, not at the table where rearmament is planned’.
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Known for choosing his words carefully, Leão has emerged as an outspoken critic of the Iran war.
This Saturday, he used strong language to denounce the conflict, citing letters from children in war zones that he said described ‘horror and inhumanity’.
The pope also referenced the Church’s opposition to the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq, citing an appeal by the late Pope John Paul II made four days before the conflict began.
‘Enough of the idolatry of self and money!’, said Leo. ‘Enough of the display of power! No more war!’
The pope, who on March 30 said that God rejects the prayers of leaders who start wars and have ‘hands full of blood’, denounced again this Saturday the use of Christian language to justify war.
‘The balance within the human family has been severely destabilized,’ said Leo. ‘Even the holy Name of God, the God of life, is being dragged into death talks.’
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Previous statements by the pope have been interpreted by conservative Catholic commentators as being directed at U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has invoked Christian language to justify joint U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran.
This Saturday’s special prayer service was announced by Leo last Sunday, in the Pope’s Easter message.
(Reporting by Joshua McElwee)
