‘Enough Of War,’ Pope Leo XIV Says In Latest Condemnation Of U.S.-Iran Conflict
ByConor Murray,
Forbes Staff. Murray is a Forbes news reporter covering entertainment trends. Follow Author
Apr 11, 2026, 02:23pm EDTApr 11, 2026, 03:16pm EDT2
Topline
Pope Leo XIV, the first American pontiff, amped up criticism of the war in Iran at a Vatican prayer service on Saturday, condemning the “delusion of omnipotence” behind the conflict as he urged leaders to “sit at the table of dialogue and mediation.”
Key Facts
The pope took aim at the leaders behind the war in Iran during his Saturday prayer, declaring, “Enough of the idolatry of self and money! Enough of the display of power! Enough of war!”
Leo said the “delusion of omnipotence” fueling the war is “becoming increasingly unpredictable and aggressive,” saying families are becoming “destabilized.”
Leo appealed to “leaders of nations”—though he did not name President Donald Trump or others involved in the conflict—saying, “To them we cry out: Stop! It is time for peace,” urging them to “sit at the table of dialogue and mediation.”
Leo delivered his remarks as American and Iranian delegations engage in face-to-face talks with Pakistani mediators, a high-stakes meeting amid a fragile two-week ceasefire agreement.
“Even the holy name of God, the God of life, is being dragged into discourses of death,” Leo said, doubling down on remarks he previously made condemning religious justifications for the war.
After his speech, Leo doubled down on his remarks in a post on X, warning “death enslaves those who have turned their backs on the living God, turning themselves and their own power into a mute, blind and deaf idol.”
What Else Has Leo Said About The War?
Leo has emerged as a fierce critic of the war, saying on Friday, “God does not bless any conflict. Anyone who is a disciple of Christ, the Prince of Peace, is never on the side of those who once wielded the sword and today drop bombs.” Early in the conflict, Leo warned a “spiral of violence” could risk becoming “an unbridgeable chasm,” saying peace can be reached “only through reasonable, sincere, and responsible dialogue.” On Tuesday, Leo condemned Trump’s threat that a “whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again,” calling the remark “truly unacceptable.” “There are certainly issues here of international law, but even more than that, it is a moral question,” Leo said.
How Are Tensions Rising Between The Pope And Washington?
Leo’s remarks come amid mounting tension between the United States and the Vatican. Earlier this week, the Pentagon denied reports a meeting between Defense Department leaders and the Vatican’s U.S. envoy was contentious, though it confirmed the meeting happened in January. An unnamed Pentagon spokesperson said the Department of Defense has “nothing but the highest regard and welcome continued dialogue with the Holy See,” saying the talks were “respectful.” The spokesperson criticized a report in the Free Press as “highly exaggerated,” after the report claimed the meeting was tense and that Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby warned the U.S. has the military power “to do whatever it wants in the world,” saying the Catholic Church “better take its side.” In the meeting, which involved Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the Free Press claimed Colby raised a threat of the Avignon Papacy, referring to a period in the 14th century in which France ousted the pope and exerted control over the church. The Free Press claimed Pentagon officials were angered by a speech Leo made in January, in which he said “a diplomacy that promotes dialogue and seeks consensus among all parties is being replaced by a diplomacy based on force.”
Tangent
David Axelrod, formerly a senior adviser to President Barack Obama, met with Leo on Thursday, according to the Vatican’s daily bulletin. Details of the meeting are unclear, but it comes amid rumors Obama may be arranging a meeting with the pope. Christopher Hale, a political strategist who runs a “Letters from Leo” newsletter about the pope, reported in March Obama was in early talks to meet with Leo. Such a meeting may mean Obama could meet Leo before Trump, who has not yet met with the first American pontiff.
Further Reading
U.S.-Iran Negotiations ‘Progressing Well,’ Pakistani Official Reportedly Says (Live Updates) (Forbes)
Pope Leo Condemns Iran War In Strongest Terms Yet: ‘God Does Not Bless Any Conflict’ (Forbes)
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