Pope Leo XIV stated that "military action will not create space for freedom or times of peace." His comments came after repeated remarks by President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who framed the U.S. war against Iran in religious terms, comparing a downed American combat pilot to Jesus Christ and arguing that God has granted divine protection to U.S. troops. When asked earlier this month if God supported the U.S. in the war, Trump responded, "Yes, because God is good." Pope Leo XIV has issued several statements opposing the escalation of conflicts worldwide. In a speech in January, the pope called for a more peaceful world order and made veiled criticisms of the U.S. days after an American operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Pope Leo XIV refuted the Trump administration's argument that God is on the side of the United States in the war against Iran, the latest in a series of criticisms, although the Vatican and the White House denied any rift following reports of a controversial meeting in January. "God does not bless any conflict," the American pontiff wrote this Friday, April 10, in a post on X. He was more direct after Trump launched a threat on social media against Iran, saying that "an entire civilization will die tonight." The pope called such a threat "truly unacceptable." At the same time, the Pentagon and the Vatican denied allegations of a rift following a news report about a controversial January meeting between a papal envoy and a senior U.S. defense official. The Free Press reported that U.S. officials had pressured the Catholic Church to side with Washington on international issues, warning of serious consequences if it did not. At the same press conference, Hegseth drew parallels between Christ and the downing of an American combat pilot on Good Friday, who was rescued on Easter Sunday. "A reborn pilot, safe and home, a nation rejoices, God is good," he said. Two days later, at a separate press conference, Hegseth had said that the thousands of U.S. attacks against Iran had been carried out "under the protection of divine providence, a massive effort with miraculous protection." "God deserves all the glory," he said. "Whoever 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," the pope wrote. The article noted that at the January meeting, the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, Elbridge Colby, delivered the warning to Cardinal Christophe Pierre, who served as apostolic nuncio in Washington until his retirement in March.
