Pope Leo XIV opened his first Holy Week as pontiff on Palm Sunday with a call for peace, emphasizing that Jesus Christ is the King of Peace who rejects war.
Preaching at St. Peter’s Square on March 29, the pope said no one can invoke Jesus to justify armed conflict.
He cited the prophet Isaiah, noting that God does not hear the prayers of those whose hands are “full of blood.”
The pope’s message contrasted with recent rhetoric from some U.S. officials who invoked religion to support military action.
Leo also drew attention to Christians in the Middle East, describing their suffering amid the ongoing conflict as a challenge to global conscience.
He said many are unable to fully observe Holy Week rites, noting that the traditional Palm Sunday procession in Jerusalem was canceled due to the war.
He urged the faithful to remember the suffering of all victims of violence, saying Christ’s Passion reflects the pain of those who are oppressed, alone, or sick.
At St. Peter’s Square, around 120,000 olive branches from the Umbria region were blessed in keeping with Italian tradition, symbolizing peace.
The pope’s focus on peace follows his recent visit to Monaco, where he denounced wars as the result of the “idolatry of power and money.”
Leo’s message is expected to continue during Holy Week, particularly at the Way of the Cross service at Rome’s Colosseum, where the choice of meditation writers often signals papal priorities on global issues.
Image: AP
