Share and Follow
ROME — On Saturday, in a forceful address, Pope Leo XIV condemned the “illusion of invincibility” that he believes is driving the conflict between the United States and Israel against Iran. He urged political figures to cease hostilities and engage in peace negotiations.
That evening, Leo led a prayer service at St. Peter’s Basilica, coinciding with the commencement of direct negotiations between the U.S. and Iran in Pakistan, under the tenuous calm of a ceasefire.
Although the U.S.-born pope did not explicitly mention the United States or President Donald Trump, his message seemed aimed at them. Leo’s words targeted the rhetoric of American officials who have cited their military prowess and framed the conflict in religious terms.
“It’s time to abandon the worship of self and wealth!” Leo proclaimed. “Enough with the power displays! Enough with war!”
Among those present in the basilica were Tehran’s archbishop, Belgian Cardinal Dominique Joseph Mathieu, and Laura Hochla, the deputy chief of mission representing the U.S., as confirmed by the U.S. Embassy.
In the first weeks of the war, the Chicago-born Leo was initially reluctant to publicly condemn the violence and limited his comments to muted appeals for peace and dialogue. But Leo stepped up his criticism starting on Palm Sunday. And this week, he said Trump’s threat to annihilate Iranian civilization was “truly unacceptable” and called for dialogue to prevail.
On Saturday, Leo called for all people of good will to pray for peace and demand an end to war from their political leaders. The evening vigil in Rome, which featured Scripture readings and meditative recitation of the Rosary prayers, was taking place as simultaneous local prayer services were being held in the U.S. and beyond.
Praying for peace, Leo said, was a way to “break the demonic cycle of evil” to build instead the Kingdom of God where there are no swords, drones or “unjust profit.”
“It is here that we find a bulwark against that delusion of omnipotence that surrounds us and is becoming increasingly unpredictable and aggressive,” he said. “Even the holy Name of God, the God of life, is being dragged into discourses of death.”
Leaders have used religion to justify their actions in the war. U.S. officials and especially Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have invoked their Christian faith to cast the U.S. as a Christian nation trying to vanquish its foes.
Leo has said God doesn’t bless any war, and certainly not those who drop bombs.
Leo presided over the service sitting off to the side of the altar on a white throne, wearing his formal red cape and liturgical stole and praying with a Rosary in his hands. Many of the priests and nuns in the pews fingered Rosary beads as the “Our Father” and “Hail Mary” prayers were recited.
The Vatican is particularly concerned about the spillover of Israel’s war against Hezbollah in Lebanon, given the plight of Christian communities in the south.
Copyright © 2026 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.