Pop Leo says God rejects the prayers of leaders ‌who start wars and have “hands full of blood” in in unusually forceful remarks as the Iran war enters ‌its second month.

Addressing tens of thousands of people in St Peter’s Square on Palm Sunday, the celebration that opens the holiest week of the year in the lead-up to Easter for the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics, the pontiff said Jesus could not be used to justify any wars.

“This is ‌our God: Jesus, ‌King of ⁠Peace, who rejects war, whom no one can use to justify ​war,” the first US Pope told crowds in brilliant sunshine on Sunday (local time).

“[Jesus] does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them, saying: ‘Even though you make many prayers, I will not listen: Your hands are full of blood’,” he said, citing a passage from the Bible.

Leo did not specifically ⁠name any world leaders, but he has stepped up ​criticism of the Iran war in recent weeks.

During an appeal at the end ‌of Sunday’s ​celebration, the Pope lamented that Christians in the Middle East “are suffering the consequences of an atrocious conflict” and ​might not be ‌able to celebrate Easter.

The Pope, who is known for choosing his ​words carefully, has repeatedly ‌called for an immediate ceasefire in the conflict and said on Monday military ​air strikes were indiscriminate and should be banned.

https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/religion/2026/03/30/pope-war-2

READ FROM TOP.

YOURDEMOCRACY.NET RECORDS HISTORY AS IT SHOULD BE — NOT AS THE WESTERN MEDIA WRONGLY REPORTS IT — SINCE 2005.

         Gus Leonisky

         POLITICAL CARTOONIST SINCE 1951.

         RABID ATHEIST AND EXISTENTIALIST