Pope Leo XIV’s Palm Sunday address came at time when the rhetoric of war was raging. The conflict triggered by attacks on Iran by the U.S. and Israel on Feb 28 has spread to various Persian Gulf states and to Israel and Lebanon. Since Iran closed the straight of Hormuz, gas prices have soared, numerous products are restricted and the world economy is becoming increasingly strained. Many thousands of been killed and wounded and over a million people in Iran and Lebanon are displaced. In this toxic mix of chaos and suffering comes the US “Secretary of War” calling for Gods assistance in producing “overwhelming violence” against the enemies of the United States”.
Well, Pope Leo isn’t buying this rhetoric and he strongly rebuked leaders using religious rhetoric to justify war, stating that God “rejects the prayers” of those who wage conflict. Addressing thousands in St. Peter’s Square, he described the conflict as “atrocious” and quoted Scripture, saying, “Your hands are full of blood”. The Pope also said that Jesus “does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them”
He also implored leaders to “Lay down your weapons! Remember that you are brothers and sisters!”.
While it is heartening for most believers to hear these words from religious leaders, we need to remember that we too have a responsibility to speak out. Our legislative leaders may not have as much leverage with the federal policy we wish they had but that is one of the tools we can use. On easy way for citizens to express their views and beliefs to members of Congress it to use the “5 Calls” phone App. It has prewritten scripts on specific topics and automatically loads the phone numbers for legislative offices making it easy to make phone calls. This kind of activism may seem distant from faith activities such as prayer and reading of scripture to which I reply with a quote from the Letter of James who reminds us that “faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone” (James 2:17) and further, James writes: ” Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works; shew me thy faith without works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works” (James 2 18). And in this case, our “works” may be our words during phone calls or letters people who have the power to make a difference!
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