In his first Palm Sunday message, Pope Leo XIV issued a firm appeal for peace before tens of thousands of faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican. During a homily of profound symbolic and political significance, the Pontiff urged all parties to “lay down their arms” and categorically rejected the use of religion to justify war.
“Christ, King of Peace, continues to cry out from His cross: ‘God is love! Have mercy! Lay down your arms—remember that you are brothers!’” proclaimed the first American Pope in history—born Robert Prevost—during a Mass marking the beginning of Holy Week.
Although he refrained from mentioning specific conflicts, Leo XIV’s address resonated against the backdrop of the war involving the United States and Israel against Iran, as well as Russia’s prolonged invasion of Ukraine. His stance was unequivocal: “God rejects war” and cannot be invoked to justify it.
