Pope Leo XIV denounces the "delusion of omnipotence" he says fuels the U.S.-Israel war in Iran

Strong language from St. Peter’s

Pope Leo XIV used unusually blunt language at an evening vigil in St. Peter’s Basilica, denouncing what he called a “delusion of omnipotence” that he said is fueling the U.S.-Israel war in Iran. “Enough of the idolatry of self and money!” he thundered. “Enough of the display of power! Enough of war!” The moment landed with weight — simple prayers, tight rows of rosaries, and a pope who suddenly sounded less like a cautious diplomat and more like a conscience demanding action.

Context and attendance

The vigil came as face-to-face talks between U.S. and Iranian officials began in Pakistan and a fragile ceasefire held. In the pews was the archbishop of Tehran, Belgian Cardinal Dominique Joseph Mathieu, and the U.S. diplomatic presence was represented by deputy chief of mission Laura Hochla, the embassy said. The pope, history’s first U.S.-born pontiff, did not name nations or leaders in his prepared remarks, but his tone appeared aimed at officials who, it has been reported, have boasted of military superiority and framed the conflict in religious terms.

Prayer as pressure

Leo urged people of good will to pray and to demand that political leaders stop and negotiate, calling prayer a way to “break the demonic cycle of evil” and build a Kingdom of God “where there are no swords, drones or ‘unjust profit.’” He also said, in starker terms, that what it has been reported were President Donald Trump’s threats to “annihilate Iranian civilization” were “truly unacceptable.” Leaders, he warned, are dragging the “holy Name of God… into discourses of death” — a rebuke that stings precisely because religious rhetoric has been used, it has been reported, by some officials to justify the war.

A fragile plea with real stakes

There was a visceral emotional moment in the basilica: prayer beads clicked, voices rose, and the Vatican’s worry about spillover — especially Israel’s war with Hezbollah and the fate of Christian communities in southern Lebanon — was obvious. Can a papal plea nudge policy where calendars, power, and momentum push otherwise? Leo’s turn from muted appeals to categorical condemnation marks a shift worth watching. Negotiations in Pakistan may be the next test — will leaders listen, or will the “delusion of omnipotence” keep trumping peace?

Sources: politico.com, Hacker News