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Pope Leo XIV’s Palm Sunday homily caused a stir in the White House briefing room Monday.
Asked to comment on the pope’s words that “God does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war,” Karoline Leavitt responded that praying for veterans is a noble thing to do.
“I don’t think there’s anything wrong with our military leaders or with the president calling on the American people to pray for our service members and those who are serving our country overseas,” Leavitt said.
In his homily, the pope meditated on Christ as the “King of Peace” who enters into the city of Jerusalem on a donkey and fulfills Old Testament prophecies of the Messiah.
“Brothers and sisters, this is our God: Jesus, King of Peace, who rejects war, whom no one can use to justify war,” the pope said. “He does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them, saying: ‘Even though you make many prayers, I will not listen: your hands are full of blood’” (Isa 1:15).
“As we set our gaze upon him who was crucified for us, we can see a crucified humanity,” Leo continued. “Above all, we hear the painful groans of all those who are oppressed by violence and are victims of war.”
Interpreting the pope’s homily as a condemnation of prayer for veterans grossly misrepresents his words. Catholic chaplains have served in the military for generations, and Pope Leo’s own father participated in the D-Day Normandy landings in World War II. Serving one’s country and praying for those who do was never the problem.
The press conference exchange missed the point. So did the headlines.
“Pope seems to rebuke Hegseth in remarks about leaders with ‘hands full of blood,’” said The Guardian.
“Pope Leo condemns Trump over Iran war in thinly veiled Palm Sunday message,” a headline in The Independent proclaimed.
“Pope Leo rejects claims that God justifies war in Palm Sunday Mass message,” according to the Los Angeles Times.
The media has chosen a narrative: Chicago-born Pope Leo versus tyrannical President Donald Trump. That’s not how the pontificate works.
The pope has criticized the war in Iran and made ongoing appeals for an end to violence out of concern for the lives of innocent civilians caught in the crossfire. He told reporters March 31 that he hopes President Trump ends the war quickly.
“Hopefully he’s looking for an off-ramp,” he said. “Hopefully he’s looking for a way to decrease the amount of violence.”
At no point did the pope say God would shun the prayers of Americans during war time. Neither did he imply that military leaders in the U.S. have blood on their hands or that the country is out of favor with God because of the war in Iran.
The pope’s concern as the spiritual leader of the universal church is for souls. I’d be concerned if he were calling for more bombs.
Moira Gleason is a senior studying English.
