Pope seems to rebuke Trump in remarks about leaders with ‘hands full of blood’

Coverage Comparison

Pope Leo XIV has issued a rare and pointed rebuke to the Trump administration, quoting the Bible to state that God does not listen to the prayers of leaders who wage war. The pontiff’s comments, made both in a Palm Sunday mass and on social media, come as the United States and Israel continue military operations against Iran, a conflict that has drawn explicit religious framing from US officials.

According to multiple reports, Pope Leo’s remarks were interpreted as a direct response to US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, who has described the conflict as a holy war and prayed for ‘overwhelming violence’ against America’s enemies. The pope, speaking in St Peter’s Square, quoted Isaiah 1:15: “When you spread out your hands in prayer, I hide my eyes from you; even when you offer many prayers, I am not listening. Your hands are full of blood!” He did not name any government or individual, but the timing and context of the message left little doubt about its target.

The Guardian, which reported on the pope’s Palm Sunday remarks and his subsequent social media post, noted that the pope called the conflict between Iran, Israel, and the US “atrocious” and insisted that Jesus could not be used to justify war. “This is our God: Jesus, king of peace, who rejects war, whom no one can use to justify war,” he told worshippers. “He does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them.”

A separate report from Dawn, a Pakistani English-language daily, framed the pope’s rebuke as part of a broader critique of US actions in the Middle East, and connected it to recent US–Iran negotiations held in Islamabad on April 11. Dawn’s coverage took a more sarcastic tone, describing the negotiations as “farcical” and suggesting that President Trump deliberately sent Vice-President J.D. Vance to fail. The report claimed that the US team was led by Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who had “disappointed the Iranians twice earlier,” and that Trump said he would blame Vance if the talks failed—while taking credit if they succeeded. That report also noted that Pakistan received $6 billion from Saudi Arabia and Qatar, a detail not mentioned by other outlets.

Key Claims

• Pope’s rebuke: Multiple sources confirm that Pope Leo XIV quoted the Bible to condemn leaders who wage war, saying God hides his eyes from their prayers because their “hands are full of blood.” The pope also wrote on social media that “God does not bless any conflict” and that military action will not create peace.
• Hegseth’s religious framing: The pope’s comments were widely seen as a response to US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, who reportedly prayed for violence against enemies and described the Iran conflict as a holy war carried out “in the name of Jesus Christ.” Hegseth also likened a pilot rescue to the resurrection of Christ, according to one Guardian report.
• US–Iran negotiations: A single-source report from Dawn detailed talks held in Islamabad on April 11, claiming the US team was led by Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, with Vice-President J.D. Vance also present. The report alleged Trump threatened to blame Vance if talks failed, and that the negotiations did not open with a prayer. These details have not been independently confirmed by other outlets.
• Conflict casualties: The Guardian reported that the US and Israel began strikes on Iran in February, with thousands of lives lost. Pope Leo has consistently spoken against the conflict since it began.

Perspectives

• US administration perspective: While the pope did not name Trump or Hegseth, US officials have continued to use religious language to justify military action. President Trump has said that God backs US actions in Iran, and Hegseth has framed the war as a divine mission.
• Critics of US policy: Dawn’s commentary suggests that the US is not serious about negotiations and is using religion as a cover for military aggression, a view echoed by the pope’s critics of “absurd and inhuman violence” spreading through the Middle East.
• Papal perspective: Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, has repeatedly urged a ceasefire and a ban on airstrikes, insisting that religious faith cannot be used to bless war. His comments resonate with many who view the conflict as a misuse of Christianity for political ends.

Conclusion

The pope’s remarks add a powerful moral voice to the debate over the US–Iran conflict, which has killed thousands and drawn in regional powers. While details of the Islamabad negotiations remain from a single source, the pope’s message is unambiguous: those who wage war cannot claim divine support. As the conflict continues, the intersection of religion and politics remains a contentious and explosive issue.