The Catholic Message Board

Pope Leo XIV on Sunday said that God “does not listen to the prayers” of individuals who start wars, as the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran continues.
“Brothers and sisters, this is our God: Jesus, King of Peace, who rejects war, whom no one can use to justify war,” the first American pope, citing a Bible passage, told congregants in St. Peter’s Square, according to The Associated Press. “He does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them,” he added.
The pontiff’s remarks came on Palm Sunday, the first day of Holy Week that culminates in Easter. It is also not the first time he has criticized the war in Iran, which began on Feb. 28.
On March 1, the day after the U.S. and Israel began striking Iran, he wrote on the social platform X, “Stability and peace are not achieved through mutual threats, nor through the use of weapons, which sow destruction, suffering, and death, but only through reasonable, sincere, and responsible dialogue.”
Since the conflict began, at least 1,551 civilians in Iran, including at least 236 children, have been killed as of Saturday, according to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA). At least 1,208 Iranian military personnel and 702 “unclassified” individuals have also been killed, HRANA added.

Consider the source. Not the Pope, but the "information" provider.

I wonder how accurate Leo's quotes are. At least, he is clear...unlike Francis.

Highlander wrote: ↑Sun Mar 29, 2026 5:37 pm Consider the source. Not the Pope, but the "information" provider.

I wonder how accurate Leo's quotes are. At least, he is clear...unlike Francis.

Here is the homily:

Brothers and sisters, this is our God: Jesus, King of Peace, who rejects war, whom no one can use to justify war. 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” (Is 1:15).

https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/ ... palme.html

There is no talking point more naive than calling for "peace". Peace is more than the absence of war, and peace requires the cooperation of both parties. When one side wants war, and the other one wants "peace", genocide is the result.

The prayer for peace is essentially a prayer for those who threaten the peace, people such as the Iranian regime, and people like Vladimir Putin, to stop threatening the peace and repent. If it is only a prayer for those trying to defend themselves against aggression to stop doing so, you are essentially consenting to mass genocide.

Iran is the world's leading supporter of terrorism, and they have been waging war against the West for 47 years. Even if all military action in Iran ended tomorrow, it would not bring peace, because Iran would continue the war it has been waging for 47 years. The only thing that would change is that there would no longer be resistance to the aggression.

I am reminded of Gandhi, who advised the West in the 1940's not to fight Hitler because he wanted "peace", passive resistance would be good enough. He admitted that this would result in mass slaughter on an unbelievable scale, but he said that it would be worth the death if it could bring "peace".

Let's see...we invade Venezuela; the Venezuelans danced in the street. We bomb Iran; The Iranians are trying as much as possible to dance in the streets. We are forcing Cuba to capitulate and step down; The Cubans are reported to be dancing in the streets.

People can only dance in the streets if there is peace. But that peace required military action. Peace usually comes at a price.

"Peace, peace", they say, but there is no peace.

anawim wrote: ↑Sun Mar 29, 2026 6:36 pm Let's see...we invade Venezuela; the Venezuelans danced in the street. We bomb Iran; The Iranians are trying as much as possible to dance in the streets. We are forcing Cuba to capitulate and step down; The Cubans are reported to be dancing in the streets.

People can only dance in the streets if there is peace. But that peace required military action. Peace usually comes at a price.

Didn't we have people all over the West dancing in the streets over the weekend? I do love lowering my window when passing such folk and yelling, "¡Viva el rey!". It is wasted, but satisfying.

I think many such assume that dancing in the streets without being gunned down is the global norm.

Highlander wrote: ↑Mon Mar 30, 2026 11:32 am Didn't we have people all over the West dancing in the streets over the weekend? I do love lowering my window when passing such folk and yelling, "¡Viva el rey!". It is wasted, but satisfying.

I think many such assume that dancing in the streets without being gunned down is the global norm.

The one that made me do a spit take was the No Kings rally in London in support for the US protests. The country with a monarch figurehead protesting in support for a country with no monarch.

We're veering into the political here...

The more I think about this, the more stupid I think this comment is. Did God not hear the prayers of David? Or of Charles Martel? Or the leaders of the First Crusade? How about the military leaders of the Reconquista, who expelled the Moors from Spain? Or the commanders at Lepanto?

I thought it was uncharitable from the get-go. Saying that peace is the goal and should always be sought, is one thing. Judging others seems to be a continuation of Francis.

In the words of Churchill, "Jaw jaw is better than war war", and I don't know anyone who would disagree with that, but it assumes that there is a negotiating partner to "jaw jaw" with, and in the case of Iran, there isn't. I don't think the Pope or anyone at the Vatican understands the mullahs, and frankly, I'm not sure Trump or Netanyahu does either. The hardline 12th Imam Shia Muslims, who have governed Iran since 1979, are a fanatical death cult; they want Iran to be destroyed, they want the entire population of Iran dead, they desire their own deaths, because they think that if Iran is destroyed, then the 12th Imam will appear and Allah will directly intervene to help them. They want the apocalypse, and they want it now. They are "Hitler in the bunker" level crazy, commanding divisions that do not exist, convinced they are winning when they are utterly defeated, and willing to let everything be destroyed if that is what it takes to maintain what they think is control.

It is no more possible to negotiate with Iran than it was to negotiate with Jim Jones of David Koresh.

Doom wrote: ↑Mon Mar 30, 2026 6:49 pm In the words of Churchill, "Jaw jaw is better than war war", and I don't know anyone who would disagree with that, but it assumes that there is a negotiating partner to "jaw jaw" with, and in the case of Iran, there isn't. I don't think the Pope or anyone at the Vatican understands the mullahs, and frankly, I'm not sure Trump or Netanyahu does either. The hardline 12th Imam Shia Muslims, who have governed Iran since 1979, are a fanatical death cult; they want Iran to be destroyed, they want the entire population of Iran dead, they desire their own deaths, because they think that if Iran is destroyed, then the 12th Imam will appear and Allah will directly intervene to help them. They want the apocalypse, and they want it now. They are "Hitler in the bunker" level crazy, commanding divisions that do not exist, convinced they are winning when they are utterly defeated, and willing to let everything be destroyed if that is what it takes to maintain what they think is control.

It is no more possible to negotiate with Iran than it was to negotiate with Jim Jones of David Koresh.

Pope Leo was reacting to attitudes coming from the US government particularly Pete Hegseths prayer invoking Armageddon doomsday language as his justification. Pope Leo has a definite point in that context don't you think?

Doom wrote: ↑Mon Mar 30, 2026 6:49 pmThey want the apocalypse, and they want it now.

Why, Johnny Ringo, that was well played. Perfectly played, indeed.

Doom wrote: ↑Mon Mar 30, 2026 6:49 pmIt is no more possible to negotiate with Iran than it was to negotiate with Jim Jones of David Koresh.

I quite agree. And it is near impossible to negotiate, under the current circumstances, if one can't find anyone with whom to negotiate. See, didn't end the sentence with a preposition.

Stella wrote: ↑Mon Mar 30, 2026 8:06 pm [
Pope Leo was reacting to attitudes coming from the US government particularly Pete Hegseths prayer invoking Armageddon doomsday language as his justification. Pope Leo has a definite point in that context don't you think?

Why condemn the rhetoric of anyone in the United States, given the extreme, genocidal, anti-Semitic rhetoric coming from Iran since 1979? What doctor would give a mild case of constipation a higher priority than terminal cancer?

Highlander wrote: ↑Tue Mar 31, 2026 1:29 pm See, didn't end the sentence with a preposition.

And no split infinities, either.

God listening to prayers is not conditional.

Doom wrote: ↑Tue Mar 31, 2026 4:29 pmWhy condemn the rhetoric of anyone in the United States, given the extreme, genocidal, anti-Semitic rhetoric coming from Iran since 1979?

We're on a roll here. I agree.

The answer to this, and other conumdrums, is the suicidal self-hate in some Western cultures.

Riverboat wrote: ↑Tue Mar 31, 2026 10:20 pm

Highlander wrote: ↑Tue Mar 31, 2026 1:29 pm See, didn't end the sentence with a preposition.

And no split infinities, either.

And nary a dangling modifier.

I wasn't prepared for this much disagreement with the Pope when he quoted the Bible.