Amid escalating violence in the Middle East, a leading Catholic voice in the region is calling for moral clarity, urging the faithful and world leaders alike to reject the misuse of God’s name to justify war.
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, sharply criticized recent remarks by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who invoked Scripture and divine providence in reference to ongoing military conflict. Speaking during a webinar, the cardinal warned that such rhetoric distorts the true nature of God.
“The abuse and manipulation of God’s name to justify this and any other war is the gravest sin we can commit at this time,” Cardinal Pizzaballa said, according to Vatican News.
He emphasized that war is not holy, but rooted in human ambition and political interest. “War is first and foremost political and has very material interests, like most wars,” he said, adding that believers must resist language that cloaks violence in religious justification. “We must do everything we can to leave no room for this pseudo-religious language, which speaks not of God, but of ourselves,” he said, according to Vatican News.
The cardinal also rejected any notion of modern religious warfare. “As believers … we need to say that no, there are no new crusades,” he said. Instead, he pointed to where God is truly present amid conflict: “If God is present in this war, He is among those who are dying, who are suffering, who are in pain, who are oppressed in various ways, throughout the Middle East,” according to Vatican News.
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His remarks echo the urgent appeals of Pope Leo XIV, who has called for an immediate end to violence. Addressing the faithful after the Angelus, the Holy Father pleaded, “Cease the fire! Let paths of dialogue be reopened!” according to Vatican News.
The Pope also expressed sorrow for the immense human toll of the conflict. “Thousands of innocent people have been killed, and many others have been forced to abandon their homes,” he said, recalling the devastation affecting families, hospitals, and communities throughout the region, according to Vatican News.
Beyond the political and theological concerns, Cardinal Pizzaballa drew attention to the worsening humanitarian crisis, particularly in Gaza. He described a population displaced and deprived of even the most basic necessities. “There are still two million displaced people, deprived of everything; 80% of the Strip is still destroyed, and no reconstruction has begun,” he said, noting that even functioning hospitals lack essential medicines, according to Vatican News.
The suffering, he said, is almost beyond comprehension. “People are literally living in the sewers; the images cannot convey the smells,” he added, underscoring the urgency of international attention and aid, according to Vatican News.
In the West Bank, the situation continues to deteriorate. The cardinal pointed to ongoing violence and severe restrictions on movement. “Almost every day there are attacks by settlers on Palestinian villages,” he said, describing a region marked by fear, instability, and deepening division, according to Vatican News.
Even some Israeli officials have spoken out against the violence. Lawmaker Meirav Cohen condemned what she described as “Jewish terror” in the West Bank, where “villages are being attacked, communities are being driven from their homes with premeditation… people are attacked for the mere fact of being Arab,” according to public remarks reported in the source material.
As the cycle of violence continues, the Church’s message remains clear: God is not a justification for war, but a call to peace, mercy, and justice. In a world tempted to sanctify conflict, Catholic leaders are urging the faithful to remember where Christ truly stands — not among the powerful, but among the suffering.
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