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ROME (AP) — In his strongest words yet, Pope Leo XIV connected Saturday denounced the “delusion of omnipotence” that is fueling the U.S.-Israel warfare successful Iran and demanded governmental leaders halt and negociate peace.
Leo presided implicit an evening supplication work successful St. Peter’s Basilica connected the aforesaid time the United States and Iran began face-to-face negotiations successful Pakistan and arsenic a fragile ceasefire held.
History’s archetypal U.S.-born pope didn’t notation the United States oregon President Donald Trump successful his prayer, which was planned earlier the talks were announced. But Leo’s code and connection appeared directed astatine Trump and U.S. officials, who person boasted of U.S. subject superiority and justified the warfare successful spiritual terms.
“Enough of the idolatry of aforesaid and money!” Leo said. “Enough of the show of power! Enough of war!”
In the basilica pews was the archbishop of Tehran, Belgian Cardinal Dominique Joseph Mathieu. The U.S. was represented successful the diplomatic corps by its lawman main of mission, Laura Hochla, the U.S. Embassy said.
In the archetypal weeks of the war, the Chicago-born Leo was initially reluctant to publically condemn the unit and constricted his comments to muted appeals for bid and dialogue. But Leo stepped up his disapproval starting connected Palm Sunday. And this week, helium said Trump’s menace to annihilate Iranian civilization was “truly unacceptable” and called for dialog to prevail.
On Saturday, Leo called for each radical of bully volition to commune for bid and request an extremity to warfare from their governmental leaders. The evening vigil successful Rome, which featured Scripture readings and meditative recitation of the Rosary prayers, was taking spot arsenic simultaneous section supplication services were being held successful the U.S. and beyond.
Praying for peace, Leo said, was a mode to “break the demonic rhythm of evil” to physique alternatively the Kingdom of God wherever determination are nary swords, drones oregon “unjust profit.”
“It is present that we find a bulwark against that delusion of omnipotence that surrounds america and is becoming progressively unpredictable and aggressive,” helium said. “Even the beatified Name of God, the God of life, is being dragged into discourses of death.”
Leaders person utilized religion to warrant their actions successful the war. U.S. officials and particularly Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth person invoked their Christian religion to formed the U.S. arsenic a Christian federation trying to vanquish its foes.
Leo has said God doesn’t bless immoderate war, and surely not those who driblet bombs.
Leo presided implicit the work sitting disconnected to the broadside of the altar connected a achromatic throne, wearing his ceremonial reddish cape and liturgical stole and praying with a Rosary successful his hands. Many of the priests and nuns successful the pews fingered Rosary beads arsenic the “Our Father” and “Hail Mary” prayers were recited.
The Vatican is peculiarly acrophobic astir the spillover of Israel’s warfare against Hezbollah successful Lebanon, fixed the plight of Christian communities successful the south.
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