Pope Leo XIV rejects the use of God to justify wars and calls for peace in Palm Sunday homily at the Vatican

Pope Leo

With the US and Israeli war against Iran entering its second month and the Russian campaign underway in Ukraine, Leo XIV dedicated his Palm Sunday homily to insisting that God is the “king of peace,” who “rejects violence and comforts the oppressed.”

“Brothers and sisters, this is our God: Jesus, King of Peace, who rejects war, whom no one can use to justify war (…) He does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, he rejects them”, said the Pope, cited by the Associated Press (AP).

Leaders on all sides in the war against Iran have used religion to justify their actions. American officials, especially Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, invoked their Christian faith to present the war as a Christian nation trying to defeat its enemies with military might.

The Russian Orthodox Church also justified Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as a “holy war” against a Western world it considers to have fallen into evil.

Palm Sunday marks Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem in the period leading up to his crucifixionwhich Christians celebrate on Good Friday, and the resurrection on Easter Sunday.

This Sunday’s celebration began with a procession of cardinals, bishops, priests and lay people entering the square carrying olive branches and palm leaves, some intricately braided. They stopped at the central obelisk, where Leo XIV delivered an opening prayer, and then proceeded in procession towards the altar to begin the mass.

According to the AP, At the beginning of this Holy Week, the suffering of Pope Francis is also remembered.

When Holy Week began in 2025, Pope Francis was still recovering in the Vatican after a five-week hospital stay due to double pneumonia. He had delegated liturgical celebrations, but regained strength on Easter Sunday to greet the faithful from the window in St. Peter’s Square. He then took what would become his last popemobile ride around the square.

Francisco passed away the following morning, on Easter Monday, after suffering a stroke. His nurse, Massimiliano Strappetti, later told Vatican Media that Francis had told him: “Thank you for bringing me back to the square for the final greeting.”