Pope Leo rejects the invocation of religion to initiate wars: “God cannot be enlisted by darkness”
Pope Leo XIV on Sunday renewed his call for peace in the Middle East and criticized those who invoke religion to start the war, saying that “God cannot be enlisted by the darkness”, informs AFP.
“Today, many of our brothers and sisters in the world are suffering from violent conflicts, caused by the absurd claim that problems and differences can be solved by wars,” the pope said during a pastoral visit to a suburb of Rome.
“Some invoke the name of God in these lethal decisions, but God cannot be enlisted by darkness. Peace must be sought by those who invoke Him,” the sovereign pontiff said.
Prayer for the victims of war
During the morning, the American pope took advantage of the Angelus prayer at the Vatican to pray again for the victims of the “atrocious violence of the war” in the Middle East and to appeal for dialogue and peace.
“I again show my compassion for all those who lost loved ones in the attacks that hit schools, hospitals and residential areas,” Leo XIV said.
He was particularly concerned about the situation in Lebanon.
“On behalf of the Christians of the Middle East and all men and women of good faith, I appeal to those responsible for this conflict. Cease fire! Let the avenues of dialogue be reopened! Violence will never be able to lead to the justice, stability and peace that people expect,” Pope Leo XIV concluded.
Call to confession
Two days ago, the sovereign pontiff said that Christian political leaders who start wars should go to confession and think if they are really following the teachings of Jesus.
“Do those Christians who bear grave responsibilities in armed conflicts have the humility and courage to make a serious examination of conscience and go to confession?” the pope asked in a speech to priests.
Cardinal Robert McElroy of Washington DC said earlier this week that the US-Israeli strikes against Iran “are not morally legitimate” because they do not meet the Church's criteria for a just war.
