By NICOLE WINFIELD<\/p>\n
ROME (AP) \u2014 Pope Leo XIV on Sunday rejected claims that God justifies war , as he<\/a> prayed especially for Christians in the Middle East during a Palm Sunday Mass before tens of thousands of people in St. Peter\u2019s Square.<\/p>\n With the U.S.-Israeli war<\/a> on Iran entering its second month and Russia\u2019s ongoing campaign in Ukraine<\/a>, Leo dedicated his Palm Sunday homily to his insistence that God is the \u201cking of peace\u201d who rejects violence and comforts those who are oppressed.<\/p>\n \u201cBrothers and sisters, this is our God: Jesus, King of Peace, who rejects war, whom no one can use to justify war,\u201d Leo said. \u201cHe does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them.\u201d<\/p>\n Leaders on all sides of the Iran war have used religion to justify their actions. U.S. officials, especially Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, have invoked their Christian faith to cast the war as a Christian nation trying to vanquish its foes<\/a> with military might. <\/p>\n Russia\u2019s Orthodox Church, too, has justified Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine as a \u201choly war\u201d<\/a> against a Western world it considers has fallen into evil.<\/p>\n Palm Sunday marks Jesus\u2019 triumphant entrance into Jerusalem in the time leading up to his crucifixion, which Christians observe on Good Friday, and resurrection on Easter Sunday.<\/p>\n In a special blessing at the end of Mass, Leo said he was praying especially for Christians in the Middle East who are \u201csuffering the consequences of an atrocious conflict. In many cases, they cannot live fully the rites of these holy days.\u201d<\/p>\n Earlier Sunday, the Latin Patriarchate said Jerusalem police prevented the Catholic Church\u2019s top leadership from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. It was the first time in centuries<\/a> church leaders were prevented from celebrating Palm Sunday at the place where Christians believe Jesus was crucified, the Patriarchate said.<\/p>\n Israeli police said the Catholic leaders\u2019 request for access to the church had been denied, since all holy sites in the Old City of Jerusalem were closed to worshippers for security reasons. A police statement said freedom of worship would continue to be upheld \u201csubject to necessary restrictions.\u201d <\/p>\n Leo said that during Holy Week, Christians cannot forget how many people around the world are suffering as Christ did. \u201cTheir trials appeal to the conscience of all. Let us raise our prayers to the Prince of Peace so that he may support people wounded by war and open concrete paths of reconciliation and peace,\u201d Leo said.<\/p>\n A Holy Week that recalls Pope Francis\u2019 suffering<\/p>\n For many people at the Vatican, the start of Holy Week this year brings back memories of the final suffering days of Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday. <\/p>\n When Holy Week opened last year, Francis was still recovering at the Vatican after a five-week hospital stay for double pneumonia. He had delegated the liturgical celebrations to others, but rallied on Easter Sunday<\/a> to greet the faithful from the loggia of St. Peter\u2019s Square. Most poignantly, he then made what became his final popemobile loop around the piazza.<\/p>\n Francis died the following morning<\/a> after suffering a stroke. His nurse, Massimiliano Strappetti<\/a>, later told Vatican Media that Francis had told him: \u201cThank you for bringing me back to the square\u201d for the final salute.<\/p>\n