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Pope leo says christians who start wars should go to confession
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 13, 2026
2 min readLast updated: March 13, 2026
Quick Summary
Pope Leo XIV urged Christian political leaders responsible for initiating wars—implicitly referring to the recent U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran—to undergo a serious examination of conscience and go to confession, framing war as incompatible with Christian teachings. He emphasized the peace-building po
Pope Leo: Christian Leaders Who Start Wars Should Go to Confession
By Joshua McElwee
Pope Leo’s Call for Reflection Among Christian Leaders
Pope Leo’s Message on War and Confession
VATICAN CITY, March 13 (Reuters) - Pope Leo suggested on Friday that Christian political leaders who start wars should go to confession and assess whether they are following the teachings of Jesus, without naming any specific leaders or conflicts.
Questioning the Conscience of Leaders
"Do those Christians who bear grave responsibility in armed conflicts have the humility and courage to make a serious examination of conscience and to go to confession?" the pope asked in a speech to priests.
Context: The Iran War and Political Leaders
Pope Leo’s Recent Appeals for Peace
While Leo did not name anyone on Friday, in recent days he has been ramping up calls for an end to the ongoing Iran war, which began with joint U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on February 28.
Christian Faith Among U.S. Leaders
U.S. President Donald Trump was raised in the Presbyterian Christian faith. Several of his top deputies, including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, are Catholic.
The Church’s Teachings on War
Jesus’ Teachings and Catholic Doctrine
Jesus taught his followers to be non-violent. The Catholic Church generally opposes war.
The Just War Tradition
Criteria for Moral Justification
For centuries, the Church has evaluated conflicts according to the just war tradition, which uses a series of criteria to evaluate whether a conflict can be considered morally justifiable, for example repelling an unjust invasion.
Recent Statements from Church Leaders
Washington, D.C. Cardinal Robert McElroy said earlier this week that the U.S.-Israeli strikes against Iran were "not morally legitimate" because they did not meet the Church's just war criteria.
Pope Leo on Confession and Peace
The Role of Confession in Catholic Life
Leo was speaking on Friday to a Vatican conference on the practice of confession, in which Catholics admit their sins to a priest and ask God's forgiveness.
Promoting Peace and Unity
The pope said that the ritual helps individual Catholics and promotes peace and unity in society.
(Reporting by Joshua McElwee; Editing by Sharon Singleton)
Key Takeaways
- •Pope Leo XIV called on Christian leaders who start wars to reflect on their conscience and go to confession, underscoring Jesus’ teaching of non-violence, without naming any individual or conflict specifically.
- •In recent days, the pope has intensified appeals for peace amid the ongoing U.S.–Israeli military campaign against Iran, which began with joint airstrikes on February 28, 2026 (axios.com).
- •Cardinal Robert McElroy of Washington, D.C., declared the U.S.–Israeli strikes on Iran “not morally legitimate,” arguing they fail to meet essential just-war criteria like just cause and right intention (ewtnnews.com).
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Pope Leo says Christians who start wars should go to confession
1What did Pope Leo say about Christian leaders and war?
Pope Leo suggested that Christian leaders who start wars should go to confession and examine whether they follow Jesus' teachings.
2Did Pope Leo mention any specific conflicts or leaders?
Pope Leo did not name specific leaders but referenced rising concerns over the ongoing Iran war.
3What is the Catholic Church's position on war?
The Catholic Church generally opposes war and uses the just war tradition to judge moral legitimacy.
4What is the just war tradition?
The just war tradition is a set of criteria used by the Church to determine if a conflict can be morally justified.
5What role does confession play according to Pope Leo?
Pope Leo stated that confession helps individuals and promotes peace and unity in society.
