Last Sunday, Pope Leo preached in St Peter’s Square. Jesus, he said, “does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war”. He backed this up by quoting the prophet Isaiah: “Even though you make many prayers, I will not listen: your hands are full of blood.”
The Pope did not, of course, identify who these war-waging people are, but the Western media immediately took his pronouncement as an implied criticism of Donald Trump’s America and Benjamin Netanyahu’s Israel.
The media interpretation was probably well-sourced. It was certainly not rebuked by the Vatican. Leo reinforced that impression in the same Palm Sunday homily by quoting similar thoughts of the late and now Venerable (i.e. headed for sainthood) Bishop Tonino Bello, a noted critic of the Iraq war.
On Easter Day, it is a racing certainty that the Pope will again talk about peace, as indeed he should. Palm Sunday begins Holy Week. It was the necessary prelude to the Passion and Resurrection of Jesus. So last weekend’s words prepare for Easter Sunday. DT.
Trump is a sinner but by disarming Iran he could be .jpg)
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