Pope Leo: “The Hands of War Leaders Are Stained with Blood”

In an unusually sharp and direct tone, Pope Leo, the head of the Vatican, warned on Sunday against the acceptance of prayers from leaders who wage wars, noting that “their hands are stained with blood,” as the Iran conflict entered its second month.

Speaking before tens of thousands in St. Peter’s Square on Palm Sunday, Pope Leo, the first American pope of the Vatican, emphasized that the Lord “rejects war… and no one can use Him to justify war.”

He added: “The Lord does not listen to the prayers of those who wage wars, but rejects them, saying, ‘Even if you pray a lot, I will not listen to you: for your hands are stained with blood.’”

Although he did not mention any world leaders by name, the Pope has intensified his criticism of the Iran war in recent weeks, repeatedly calling for an immediate ceasefire.

On Monday, he stated that the airstrikes are indiscriminate and must be stopped, expressing deep concern over the ongoing conflict and its impact on civilians.