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Pope Leo XIV connected Sunday (March 29, 2026) rejected claims that God justifies warfare and prayed particularly for Christians successful the Middle East during a Palm Sunday Mass earlier tens of thousands of radical successful St. Peter's Square.
With the U.S.-Israeli warfare connected Iran entering its 2nd period and Russia's ongoing run successful Ukraine, Leo dedicated his Palm Sunday homily to insisting that God is the “king of peace” who rejects unit and comforts those who are oppressed.
“Brothers and sisters, this is our God: Jesus, King of Peace, who rejects war, whom nary 1 tin usage to warrant war,” Pope Leo said. “He does not perceive to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them.” Leaders connected each sides of the Iran warfare person utilized religion to warrant their actions. U.S. officials, particularly Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, person invoked their Christian religion to formed the warfare arsenic a Christian federation trying to vanquish its foes with subject might.
Russia's Orthodox Church, too, has justified Russia's penetration of Ukraine arsenic a “holy war” against a Western satellite it considers has fallen into evil.
Palm Sunday marks Jesus' triumphant entranceway into Jerusalem successful the clip starring up to his crucifixion, which Christians observe connected Good Friday, and resurrection connected Easter Sunday.
In a peculiar blessing astatine the extremity of Mass, Pope Leo said helium was praying particularly for Christians successful the Middle East who are “suffering the consequences of an atrocious conflict. In galore cases, they cannot unrecorded the rites of these beatified days.” Earlier Sunday, the Latin Patriarchate said Jerusalem constabulary prevented the Catholic church's apical enactment from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. It was the archetypal clip successful centuries that religion leaders were prevented from celebrating Palm Sunday astatine the spot wherever Christians judge Jesus was crucified, the Patriarchate said.
Pope Leo said that during Holy Week, Christians cannot hide however galore radical astir the satellite are suffering arsenic Christ did. “Their trials entreaty to the conscience of all. Let america rise our prayers to the Prince of Peace truthful that helium whitethorn enactment radical wounded by warfare and unfastened factual paths of reconciliation and peace,” Pope Leo said.
A Holy Week that recalls Pope Francis' suffering
When Holy Week opened past year, Pope Francis was inactive recovering astatine the Vatican aft a five-week infirmary enactment for treble pneumonia. He had delegated the liturgical celebrations to others, but rallied connected Easter Sunday to greet the faithful from the loggia of St. Peter's Square. Most poignantly, helium past made what became his last popemobile loop astir the piazza.
Pope Francis died the pursuing morning, Easter Monday, aft suffering a stroke. His nurse, Massimiliano Strappetti, aboriginal told Vatican Media that Francis had told him: “Thank you for bringing maine backmost to the square” for the last salute.
Pope Leo is owed to preside implicit this week's liturgical appointments and is returning to contented with the Holy Thursday foot-washing ceremonial that commemorates Jesus' Last Supper with his disciples.
During his 12-year pontificate,Pope Francis famously celebrated the Holy Thursday ritual by travelling to Rome-area prisons and exile centres to lavation the feet of radical connected society's margins. His purpose was to thrust location the ritual's connection of work and humility, and helium would often muse during his Holy Thursday homilies, “Why them and not me?” Pope Francis' motion had been praised arsenic a tangible grounds of his content that the religion indispensable spell to the peripheries to find those astir successful request of God's emotion and mercy. But immoderate critics bristled astatine the yearly outings, particularly since Francis would besides lavation the feet of Muslims and radical of different faiths.
Leo restores Holy Week foot-washing tradition
Pope Leo, history's archetypal U.S.-born Pope, is returning the Holy Thursday foot-washing contented to the basilica of St. John Lateran, wherever popes performed it for decades. The Vatican hasn't yet said who volition participate, though Popes Benedict XVI and John Paul II usually washed the feet of 12 priests.
On Friday, Pope Leo is owed to preside implicit the Good Friday procession astatine Rome's Colosseum commemorating Christ's Passion and crucifixion. Saturday brings the late-night Easter Vigil, during which Leo volition baptise caller Catholics, followed a fewer hours aboriginal by Easter Sunday, erstwhile Christians commemorate the resurrection of Jesus.
Pope Leo volition observe Easter Sunday Mass successful St. Peter's Square and past present his Easter blessing from the loggia of the basilica.
