End the war, Pope Leo pleads

With madness having overcome the leaders of the United States, Israel and Iran in waging an all-out war to near extinction, Pope Leo XIV has intervened. The leader of the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics, an American, has urged US President Donald Trump to seek a diplomatic exit from the widening Iran conflict as casualties mount, energy shortages have erupted and the world teeters on a severe recession.

“I’m told that President Trump has recently stated that he would like to end the war. Hopefully he’s looking for an off-ramp. ... Hopefully he’s looking for a way to decrease the amount of violence,” the pontiff said on Tuesday, speaking to journalists outside Castel Gandolfo residence near Rome.

Pope Leo was making an unusually direct intervention. Lately, he has intensified criticism of Trump, saying on Sunday Jesus does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war and have hands full of blood.

He had voiced concern over mounting civilian casualties and called for an immediate end to hostilities before Easter on April 5. “Lay down your arms,” the pope pleaded to the Iran war protagonists. Quoting Jesus, Leo said: “Put your sword back into its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword.”

“There have been so many deaths, including innocent children,” the pope said. “Let’s continually appeal for peace. … There are too many people who promote fighting, violence (and) war.”

Following is the full text of Pope Leo’s homily at St. Peter’s Square, March 29, 2026:

Dear brothers and sisters,

As Jesus walks the Way of the Cross, we place ourselves behind him, following in his footsteps. As we walk with him, we contemplate his passion for the sake of humanity, his broken heart and his life as a gift of love.

We turn our gaze to Jesus, who reveals himself as King of Peace, even as war looms around him. He remains steadfast in meekness, while others are stirring up violence. He offers himself to embrace humanity, even as others raise swords and clubs. He is the light of the world, though darkness is about to engulf the earth. He came to bring life, even as plans unfold to condemn him to death.

King of Peace. Jesus’ desire is to bring the world into the Father’s arms, tearing down every barrier that separates us from God and from our neighbor, for “He is our peace” (Eph 2:14).

King of Peace. Jesus enters into Jerusalem not upon a horse, but upon a donkey, fulfilling the ancient prophecy that calls for rejoicing at the arrival of the Messiah: “Lo, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. He will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the war-horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall be cut off, and he shall command peace to the nations” (Zech 9:9–10).

King of Peace. When one of his disciples drew his sword to defend him and struck the high priest’s servant, Jesus immediately stopped him, saying: “Put your sword back into its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword” (Mt 26:52).

King of Peace. While he was burdened with our sufferings and pierced for our sins, Jesus “did not open his mouth, like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent” (Is 53:7). He did not arm himself, or defend himself or fight any war. He revealed the gentle face of God, who always rejects violence. Rather than saving himself, he allowed himself to be nailed to the cross, embracing every cross borne in every time and place throughout human history.

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, but rejects them, saying: “Even though you make many prayers, I will not listen: your hands are full of blood” (Is 1:15).

As we set our gaze upon him who was crucified for us, we can see a crucified humanity. In his wounds, we see the hurts of so many women and men today. In his last cry to the Father, we hear the weeping of those who are crushed, who have no hope, who are sick and who are alone. Above all, we hear the painful groans of all those who are oppressed by violence and are victims of war.

Christ, King of Peace, cries out again from his cross: God is love! Have mercy! Lay down your weapons! Remember that you are brothers and sisters!

In the words of the Servant of God, Bishop Tonino Bello, I would like to entrust this cry to Mary Most Holy, who stands beneath the cross of her Son and weeps also at the feet of those who are crucified today:

“Holy Mary, woman of the third day, grant us the certainty that, in spite of all, death will no longer hold sway over us; that the injustices of peoples are numbered; that the flashes of war are fading into the twilight; that the sufferings of the poor are breathing their last. And grant, finally, that the tears of all the victims of violence and pain will soon be dried up like frost beneath the spring sun” (Maria, donna dei nostri giorni).

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