by Tim Isbell, April 15, 2026
As most visitors to my website know, I'm a minister in the International Church of the Nazarene, a Wesleyan Holiness Christian tradition. Though I'm not Catholic, I recently read several wise quotes from Pope Leo XIV about Trump's war with Iran. Here's my list of Pope Leo's quotes from the past few weeks on this topic:
To be a "just war," it must be a defense against another who actively wages war
The Christian mission has often been “distorted by a desire for domination, entirely foreign to the way of Jesus Christ.” “Today, as we all know, there has also been this threat against the entire people of Iran, and this is truly unacceptable.”
“Enough with war! True strength is manifested in serving life.”
“Enough with the idolatry of self and money! Enough with the display of force!”
“We tend to consider ourselves powerful when we dominate, victorious when we destroy our equals, great when we are feared (but) God has given us an example — not of how to dominate, but of how to liberate; not of how to destroy life, but of how to give it.”
“Sit at the tables of dialogue and mediation, not at the tables where rearmament is planned, and death is deliberated!”
“Whoever is a disciple of Christ, the Prince of Peace, never stands on the side of those who yesterday wielded the sword and today drop bombs.”
“Military action will not create space for freedom or times of peace… which comes only from the patient promotion of coexistence and dialogue.”
“Let diplomacy silence the weapons! Let nations build peace, not destroy futures.”
“Truly unacceptable — on threats to "annihilate Iranian civilization.”
“Absurd and inhuman violence is spreading ferociously… profaned by the blasphemy of war.”
“Woe to those who manipulate religion and the very name of God for their own military, economic, and political gain, dragging that which is sacred into darkness and filth.”
“The world is being ravaged by a handful of tyrants, yet it is held together by a multitude of supportive brothers and sisters.”
“The masters of war,” he said, “pretend not to know that it takes only a moment to destroy, yet often a lifetime is not enough to rebuild. They turn a blind eye to the fact that billions of dollars are spent on killing and devastation.”
My voice is much smaller than Pope Leo's, but I'll add mine anyway: "All of us who self-identify as Christians must align our politics with Jesus' teachings." If you're not sure what those teachings look like regarding the current situation, Pope Leo's quotes will give you a good start.
Orthocardia (3/21/26)