Pope Leo XIV leads a vigil for peace inside St. Peter’s Basilica on the Vatican, Saturday, April 11, 2026.
Gregorio Borgia/AP
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Gregorio Borgia/AP
ROME (AP) — In his strongest phrases but, Pope Leo XIV on Saturday denounced the “delusion of omnipotence” that’s fueling the U.S.-Israel battle in Iran and demanded political leaders cease and negotiate peace.
Leo presided over a night prayer service in St. Peter’s Basilica on the identical day the US and Iran started face-to-face negotiations in Pakistan and as a fragile ceasefire held.
Historical past’s first U.S.-born pope did not point out the US or President Donald Trump in his prayer, which was deliberate earlier than the talks had been introduced. However Leo’s tone and message appeared directed at Trump and U.S. officers, who’ve boasted of U.S. navy superiority and justified the battle in non secular phrases.
“Enough of the idolatry of self and money!” Leo mentioned. “Enough of the display of power! Enough of war!”
Within the basilica pews was the archbishop of Tehran, Belgian Cardinal Dominique Joseph Mathieu. The U.S. was represented within the diplomatic corps by its deputy chief of mission, Laura Hochla, the U.S. Embassy mentioned.
Within the first weeks of the battle, the Chicago-born Leo was initially reluctant to publicly condemn the violence and restricted his feedback to muted appeals for peace and dialogue. However Leo stepped up his criticism beginning on Palm Sunday. And this week, he mentioned Trump’s risk to annihilate Iranian civilization was “truly unacceptable” and known as for dialogue to prevail.
On Saturday, Leo known as for all folks of fine will to hope for peace and demand an finish to battle from their political leaders. The night vigil in Rome, which featured Scripture readings and meditative recitation of the Rosary prayers, was happening as simultaneous native prayer providers had been being held within the U.S. and past.
Praying for peace, Leo mentioned, was a approach to “break the demonic cycle of evil” to construct as an alternative the Kingdom of God the place there aren’t any 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 mentioned. “Even the holy Name of God, the God of life, is being dragged into discourses of death.”
Leaders have used faith to justify their actions within the battle. U.S. officers and particularly Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth have invoked their Christian religion to forged the U.S. as a Christian nation making an attempt to conquer its foes.
Leo has mentioned God would not bless any battle, and positively not those that drop bombs.
Leo presided over the service sitting off to the aspect of the altar on a white throne, sporting his formal pink cape and liturgical stole and praying with a Rosary in his arms. Lots of the clergymen and nuns within the pews fingered Rosary beads because the “Our Father” and “Hail Mary” prayers had been recited.
The Vatican is especially involved concerning the spillover of Israel’s battle in opposition to Hezbollah in Lebanon, given the plight of Christian communities within the south.
