Pope Leo XIV sharply criticized what he described as the "illusion of absolute power" fueling the American-Israeli war in Iran, in his strongest condemnation to date. Pope Leo presided over an evening mass in St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican on the same day the United States and Iran began face-to-face direct talks in Pakistan. In his homily, which was scheduled before the talks were announced, the Pope did not name the United States or President Donald Trump. Pope Leo called on all people of good will to pray for peace and demand their political leaders end the war. Leo said prayer for peace is a means to "break the diabolical cycle of evil," explaining that leaders use religion to justify their actions in war, pointing to U.S. officials who drew on their Christian faith to portray the U.S. as a Christian nation seeking to defeat its enemies. Pope Leo also cited letters from children in war zones that he said described "horror and inhumanity." The 70-year-old Pope, known for being extremely careful in choosing his words, has emerged as a vocal critic of the war on Iran. "Sit down at the tables of dialogue and mediation, not at the tables where plans for rearmament are made," Leo added. "Enough worship of self and money!"
