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

March 29, 2026

TL;DR

Pope Leo stated that God does not listen to the prayers of leaders who wage war and have 'hands full of blood'.
The remarks are seen as an apparent rebuke to the Trump administration, made during rising tensions in the Middle East.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recently prayed for 'overwhelming violence' against the nation's enemies.
The Pope stressed that Jesus is the 'king of peace' and cannot be used to justify war, highlighting Jesus's acceptance of suffering over violence.
The article mentions an incident where Israeli police prevented an archbishop from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, drawing criticism from US, French, and Italian officials.

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