Pope Leo sharpened his criticism of war and those who wage it on Saturday, demanding global leaders halt the fighting during a prayer vigil for peace at St. Peter's Basilica. "Stop! It is time for peace!" the pope said in a direct appeal, Reuters reports. "?Sit at the table of dialogue and mediation, not at the table where rearmament is planned." Leo denounced the growing "delusion of omnipotence" that he suggested is driving the Iran war in what the AP described as his strongest denunciation yet. He didn't mention the US or President Trump by name but echoed earlier criticism of invoking God to justify war.
"Enough of the idolatry of self and money!" the pope said. "Enough of the display of power! Enough of war!" Those in the pews included the archbishop of Tehran, Belgian Cardinal Dominique Joseph Mathieu. The US was represented in the diplomatic corps by its deputy chief of mission, Laura Hochla, the American Embassy said. Leo called for all people of good will to pray for peace and demand their political leaders put an end to the "madness of war." The evening vigil, which featured Scripture readings and meditative recitation of the Rosary prayers, was taking place as simultaneous local prayer services were being held in the US and elsewhere.
Leo also linked his stance to earlier Vatican positions, recalling Pope John Paul II's appeal against the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, issued days before that war began. On Saturday, he attacked what he described as an "idolatry of self and money," declaring: "Enough of the display of power! Enough of war!" Some conservative Catholic commentators have previously read his criticisms as directed at U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has used Christian language to defend the joint U.S.-Israeli strikes that triggered the current Iran conflict.
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