Leo XIV bursts into Holy Week with a global message: “God rejects war”

At the beginning of Holy Week full of symbolism, Pope Leo XIV launched a forceful message against war, placing peace as the central axis of his pontificate before thousands of faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square.

During his first Palm Sunday homily, the leader of the Catholic Church made a direct call to stop armed conflicts and flatly rejected the use of faith as an argument for violence:

“God is love… lay down your weapons,” he proclaimed.

A SPEECH WITH GEOPOLITICAL BACKGROUND

Although he avoided mentioning specific countries or wars, the pontiff’s message comes amid international tensions such as the war between the United States and Israel against Iran, as well as Russia’s prolonged invasion of Ukraine.

His position was clear: no cause can justify violence in the name of God. In that sense, he recalled that Jesus Christ represents the absolute renunciation of war, emphasizing that he never resorted to force to defend himself.

This positioning marks a firm discursive line from the beginning of his leadership, with not only religious, but also political and diplomatic implications.

MIDDLE EAST AND RELIGIOUS TENSIONS

After praying the Angelus, Leo XIV turned his attention to the Middle East, where he expressed solidarity with Christian communities affected by violence.

His words come after the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem denounced restrictions imposed by Israeli authorities on access to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher during the Palm Sunday celebrations.

The event was described as a serious precedent, as it is a central site for Christianity where, according to tradition, the crucifixion of Jesus occurred.

MIGRANTS AND INVISIBLE VICTIMS

The pontiff also made visible sectors often ignored in the global debate, such as migrants who have lost their lives at sea, particularly on routes near Crete.

In his message, he insisted that peace must be understood as a universal principle that encompasses land, sea and air, reinforcing a humanist vision that transcends borders.

SIGNS OF CHANGE IN THE VATICAN

The celebration of Palm Sunday also marks the beginning of the first Holy Week of the new pope, elected on May 8. Among the decisions that outline his style, the return of the Holy Thursday mass to the Basilica of Saint John Lateran stands out, taking up more classic liturgical traditions.

Likewise, he will lead the Good Friday Stations of the Cross in the Roman Coliseum, reinforcing the historical symbols of Catholicism in a stage that aims to combine tradition with a global message of peace.