Pope Leo XIV denies claim that God justifies war in Palm Sunday Mass message

As the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran enters its second month and Russia continues its actions in Ukraine, Leo dedicated his palm sunday He insisted that God was the “Prince of Peace,” rejecting violence and comforting those who were oppressed.

“Brothers and sisters, this is our God: Jesus, the Prince of Peace, who rejects war and who no one can use to justify war,” said Leo. “He does not listen to the prayers of those who make war, but rejects them.”

Leaders on all sides of Iran’s war have used religion to justify their actions. U.S. officials, notably Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, invoked their Christian faith to describe the war as an attempt by a Christian nation to defeat an enemy with military force.

The Russian Orthodox Church also rationalizes Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as a “holy war” against a Western world it believes has fallen into evil.

Palm Sunday marks Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem before his crucifixion, an event Christians celebrate on Good Friday and his resurrection on Easter Sunday.

In a special blessing at the end of Mass, Leo said he prayed especially for Christians in the Middle East, who “are suffering the consequences of brutal conflicts. In many cases they are unable to fully fulfill the rites of these holy days.”

Earlier on Sunday, the Latin Patriarchate said Jerusalem police had prevented the Catholic Church’s top leadership from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. The patriarchate said it was the first time in centuries that church leaders had been banned from celebrating Palm Sunday at the site where Christians believe Jesus was crucified.

Israeli police said the Catholic leader’s request to enter the church had been denied because all holy sites in Jerusalem’s Old City are closed to worshipers for security reasons. A police statement said freedom of worship will continue to be upheld “with necessary restrictions.”

During Holy Week, Christians must not forget how many people around the world are suffering like Christ, Leo said. “Their trials have awakened the conscience of all people,” Leo said. “Let us pray to the Prince of Peace so that he can support those wounded by war and open concrete paths to reconciliation and peace.”

Francis was still recovering at the Vatican after being hospitalized for five weeks with double pneumonia at the start of Holy Week last year. He delegated the liturgical celebrations to others, but on Easter Sunday gathered in the Loggia of St. Peter’s Square to greet the faithful. Most poignantly, he then made a final lap of the papal car around the square.

Francis died of a stroke the next morning. His nurse, Massimiliano Strappetti, later told Vatican media that Francis told him: “Thank you for taking me back to the square” for a final tribute.

Leo will lead this week’s liturgy and will return to tradition with a Holy Thursday foot-washing ceremony to commemorate Jesus’ Last Supper with his disciples.

During his 12 years as pope, Francis famously celebrated Holy Thursday rituals by traveling to prisons and refugee centers in the Rome area to wash the feet of the most marginalized. He aimed to make the ceremony’s message of service and humility sink in, often musing in his Holy Thursday sermons “Why them and not me?”

Francis’ move was praised as tangible evidence of his belief that the Church must go to the peripheries to find those most in need of God’s love and mercy. But some critics are outraged by the annual outing, especially because Francis also washes the feet of Muslims and people of other faiths.

Leo will preside over the Good Friday procession at the Colosseum on Friday, commemorating the Passion and Passion of Christ. Saturday is the late-night Easter Vigil, during which Leo will baptize new Catholics, and a few hours later is Easter Sunday, when Christians commemorate the resurrection of Jesus.

Leo will celebrate Easter Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s Square and then give his Easter blessing in the loggia of the cathedral.