Pope Leo says 'delusion of omnipotence' is fueling U.S.-Israeli war in Iran

Pope Leo says 'delusion of omnipotence' is fueling U.S.-Israeli war in Iran April 11, 20262:16 PM ET By  The Associated Press Pope Leo XIV leads a vigil for peace inside St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Saturday, April 11, 2026. Gregorio Borgia/AP hide caption toggle caption Gregorio Borgia/AP ROME (AP) — In his strongest words yet, Pope Leo XIV on Saturday denounced the "delusion of omnipotence" that is fueling the U.S.-Israel war in Iran and demanded political leaders stop and negotiate peace. Leo presided over an evening prayer service in St. Peter's Basilica on the same day the United States and Iran began face-to-face negotiations in Pakistan and as a fragile ceasefire held. History's first U.S.-born pope didn't mention the United States or President Donald Trump in his prayer, which was planned before the talks were announced. But Leo's tone and message appeared directed at Trump and U.S. officials, who have boasted of U.S. military superiority and justified the war in religious terms. Sponsor Message "Enough of the idolatry of self and money!" Leo said. "Enough of the display of power! Enough of war!" Middle East conflict U.S.-Iran peace talks underway in Islamabad after weeks of frantic diplomacy In the basilica pews was the archbishop of Tehran, Belgian Cardinal Dominique Joseph Mathieu. The U.S. was represented in the diplomatic corps by its deputy chief of mission, Laura Hochla, the U.S. Embassy said. In the first weeks of the war, the Chicago-born Leo was initially reluctant to publicly condemn the violence and limited his comments to muted appeals for peace and dialogue. But Leo stepped up his criticism starting on Palm Sunday. And this week, he said Trump's threat to annihilate Iranian civilization was "truly unacceptable" and called for dialogue to prevail. Religion Pope Leo calls for peace and an end to world conflicts in first Easter Mass On Saturday, Leo called for all people of good will to pray for peace and demand an end to war from the...