Pope Leo XIV Calls for Peace as Trump Escalates Iran War Rhetoric on Easter Sunday

Easter Sunday this year carried a sharper edge than usual. As millions of Christians around the world celebrated the resurrection of Jesus Christ, two very different messages about war and peace were being delivered from two very different pulpits.

Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born pope in history, used his Easter address to call on world leaders to choose dialogue over conflict. At nearly the same moment, President Trump was posting profanity-laced ultimatums on social media directed at Iran, demanding the country open the Strait of Hormuz or face devastating consequences.

What the Pope Said

During his first Easter mass as pontiff, Pope Leo XIV urged the faithful to open themselves to the transformative power of Christ's love — and directed pointed words toward those in positions of military and political power.

"Let us allow our hearts to be transformed by his immense love for us. Let those who have weapons lay them down," the pope . "Let those who have the power to unleash wars choose peace! Not a peace imposed by force, but through dialogue! Not with the desire to dominate others, but to encounter them."

This was not the first time Leo has spoken out against the ongoing Iran war. According to reports, the pope has repeatedly voiced concern about U.S. military actions and has also taken moral stances against the Trump administration's immigration policies.

A Military Archbishop Weighs In

Pope Leo was not the only Catholic leader speaking about the war on Easter Sunday. Archbishop Timothy Broglio, who leads the Catholic Archdiocese for the Military Services USA, appeared on CBS News' "Face the Nation" and offered a measured but pointed perspective on the conflict.

Broglio acknowledged that Christ "certainly brought a message of peace" and stated clearly that war is "always" a last resort. While he stopped short of fully condemning the administration's decision to go to war — noting that Trump officials "may have information that led them to think" that war "was the only choice they had" — he did not offer an endorsement either.

"But I do think that it's hard to cast this war, you know, as something that would be sponsored by the Lord," Broglio said.

Trump's Easter Message to Iran

While religious leaders appealed for peace, President Trump took a dramatically different tone. On Easter Sunday, he publicly demanded that Iran "Open the F--kin' Strait, you crazy bastards, or you'll be living in Hell — JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah." The message came as Trump has threatened to bomb bridges, energy, water, and oil infrastructure inside Iran if no deal is reached by Tuesday to reopen the throttled Strait of Hormuz.

The White House Responds to Church Criticism

The tension between the Trump administration and Catholic leadership is not new. Last Monday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt — herself a Catholic — responded to Pope Leo's Palm Sunday homily, in which the pope said Jesus "does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them."

Rather than addressing the pope's statement directly, Leavitt pointed to the tradition of prayer during wartime.

"We've seen presidents. We've seen the leaders of the Department of War, and we've seen our troops go to prayer during the most turbulent times in our nation's history," Leavitt.

"I don't think there's anything wrong with our military leaders or with the president calling on the American people to pray for our service members and those who are serving our country overseas. In fact, I think it's a very noble thing to do," she added.

"And if you talk to many service members, they will tell you they appreciate the prayers and support from the commander in chief and from his Cabinet."

The White House did not respond to a Sunday afternoon request for additional comment on the pope's Easter remarks. Meanwhile, U.S. Roman Catholic leaders have continued to voice moral opposition to several Trump administration policies, including those related to immigration and the Iran war.