Pope Leo condemns Trump over Iran war in thinly veiled Palm Sunday message

Pope Leo delivered an unusually forceful connection connected Sunday, stating that God rejects nan prayers of leaders who initiate wars and person "hands afloat of blood", arsenic the conflict successful Iran entered its 2nd month.

Speaking to tens of thousands gathered successful St Peter's Square for Palm Sunday, nan ceremony that inaugurates nan holiest week of nan twelvemonth for nan world's 1.4 cardinal Catholics starring up to Easter, nan pontiff asserted that Jesus cannot beryllium invoked to warrant immoderate shape of warfare.

"This is our God: Jesus, King of Peace, who rejects war, whom nary 1 tin usage to warrant war," Leo, nan first U.S. pope, told crowds successful superb sunshine.

"(Jesus) does not perceive to nan prayers of those who costs war, but rejects them, saying: 'Even though you make galore prayers, I will not listen: your hands are afloat of blood'," he said, citing a Bible passage.

Leo did not specifically sanction immoderate world leaders, but he has been ramping up disapproval of nan Iran war successful caller weeks.

The pope, who is known for choosing his words carefully, has repeatedly called for an contiguous ceasefire successful nan conflict and said connected Monday that subject airstrikes are indiscriminate and should beryllium banned.

Some U.S. officials person invoked Christian connection to warrant nan associated U.S.-Israeli strikes connected Iran connected February 28 that initiated nan expanding war.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has started starring Christian dream services astatine nan Pentagon, prayed astatine a work connected Wednesday for "overwhelming unit of action against those who merit nary mercy".

Leo connected Sunday referenced a Bible transition successful which Jesus, astir to beryllium arrested up of his crucifixion, rebuked 1 of his followers for striking nan personification arresting him pinch a sword.

"(Jesus) did not limb himself, aliases take sides himself, aliases conflict immoderate war," Leo said.

"He revealed nan gentle look of God, who ever rejects violence. Rather than redeeming himself, he allowed himself to beryllium nailed to nan cross."