'God does not bless any conflict': pope issues new rebuke over Iran war

[highplainsdem]

Source: Guardian

Pope Leo XIV on Friday offered a new criticism of war, in a social media post that named no names but appeared to hint at the Trump administration leadership harnessing Christian nationalism to glorify the US and Israel’s war against Iran.

“God does not bless any conflict. Anyone who is a disciple of Christ, the Prince of Peace, is never on the side of those who once wielded the sword and today drop bombs,” Leo wrote on his official X account. “Military action will not create space for freedom or times of #Peace, which comes only from the patient promotion of coexistence and dialogue among peoples.”

-snip-

On Friday, the pope also wrote: “Absurd and inhuman violence is spreading ferociously through the sacred places of the Christian East. Profaned by the blasphemy of war and the brutality of business, with no regard for people’s lives, which are considered at most collateral damage of self-interest.”

He continued: “No gain can be worth the life of the weakest, children, or families. No cause can justify the shedding of innocent blood.”

-snip-

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/apr/10/pope-leo-criticism-iran-war

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From Bluesky, reposted by Mueller, She Wrote:

Absolutely remarkable statement from Pope Leo today.
One for the history books
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/a...

— Albert Pinto (@70sbachchan.bsky.social) 2026-04-10T21:18:51.851Z

[Solly Mack]

1. Pope Bob from Chicago don't take no shit.

[efhmc]

9. He actually comprehends and preaches who Christ was and what we are suppose to do if we claim to follow him.

[Solly Mack]

10. He won't be bullied by Trump either.

[Bluetus]

2. Next you're going to tell me that Jesus doesn't reward football players

by making the ball go through the goalposts.

[Cha]

3. TY & Pope Leo XIV! He does Not

stay silent During this Time of Grave Urgency.

[Fil1957]

4. I'm not religious, but I like this Pope. He is a positive influence. Hegseth? Are you listening?

[IronLionZion]

5. Pope Leo is on a mission from God, Chicago style

I like the old photos of a young future Pope looking like the Blues Brothers, of which he is a big fan.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DQ_AOgVjRXC/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Link to tweet

[ProudMNDemocrat]

6. Pope Leo and Francis have my respect for giving God a HUMAN face..

Knowing that He and His son, Jesus Christ, will NEVER condone the wars of man and the evil that follows them ANYWHERE around the world. Non-Christian religions have tenets they follow to live a MORAL life.

What is happening within the Trump regime is NOT MORAL or Christ-like behavior. Pope Leo is pointing that out.

[twodogsbarking]

7. The Crusades come to mind.

[RussBLib]

8. He doesn't?

That’s funny. I can find lots of instances in the Bible where God urged his followers to wipe out this place or that place. But maybe that’s an exception, because those were usually orders from God to wipe out some place or some people. Those killings did not arise from any “conflict.” Some people were “too idolatrous” so they deserved to die. They were one-sided genocides. Praise the Lord.

https://russblib.blogspot.com/?m=1

[ck4829]

11. K&R