Pope Sends Clear Palm Sunday Message To World’s Warlords | EUROtoday

Pope Leo XIV marked the Christian vacation of Palm Sunday by calling for an finish to the violent chaos within the Middle East and condemning world leaders who’ve weaponized Christianity to justify warfare.

The pontiff described Jesus Christ because the “king of peace” who “offers himself to embrace humanity, even as others raise swords and clubs.”

“This is our God: Jesus, king of peace, who rejects war, whom no one can use to justify war,” Pope Leo stated in St. Peter’s Square. “He 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.’”

The Trump administration and its followers largely gravitate towards Christian nationalism and evangelism, with officers like Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth describing U.S. involvement within the warfare with Iran as a Christian nation utilizing its navy would possibly to get rid of its principally Muslim enemies.

“Let every round find its mark against the enemies of righteousness and our great nation,” Hegseth stated final week throughout his first month-to-month Christian worship service on the Pentagon because the Iran warfare started. “Give them wisdom in every decision, endurance for the trial ahead, unbreakable unity, and overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy.”

Like his late predecessor, Pope Leo has gained a fame for opposing violence and warfare, and has grown extra vocal about this stance because the U.S. and Israel launched their warfare on Iran. Religion has additionally performed an element in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, in addition to Israel’s assaults on the Palestinian territories and Lebanon.

“As we set our gaze upon him who was crucified for us, we can see a crucified humanity,” the pontiff stated. “In his wounds, we see the hurts of so many women and men today. In his last cry to the Father, we hear the weeping of those who are crushed, who have no hope, who are sick and who are alone. Above all, we hear the painful groans of all those who are oppressed by violence and are victims of war.”

Palm Sunday commemorates Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem and marks the beginning of the Christian holy week that results in his crucifixion on Good Friday and resurrection on Easter Sunday. The pontiff stated he was praying for the Christians within the Middle East, “who are suffering the consequences of a brutal conflict and, in many cases, are unable to observe fully the liturgies of these holy days.”

Israel confronted backlash Sunday after police blocked the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, and the Custos of the Holy Land, Reverend Fr. Francesco Ielpo, from coming into the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to conduct mass. The patriarchate stated the rejection was the “first time in centuries” that church leaders had been prevented from celebrating Palm Sunday on the church, which holds the tomb Christians imagine Jesus rose from on Easter.

Israeli police claimed the leaders had been denied as a result of all holy websites within the metropolis had been closed for safety causes. However, following statements from Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated Israel will attempt to reopen the church at the least partially this week.