The Pope: no one can use God to justify war
During the celebration in St. Peter's Square, the Pope condemned the use of religion to justify conflicts, praying for the victims and migrants
Key points
Jesus "did not arm himself, did not defend himself, did not fight any war. He manifested the meek face of God, who always rejects violence, and instead of saving himself he allowed himself to be nailed to the cross, to embrace all the crosses planted in every time and place in the history of humanity". This was said by Pope Leo, back from his lightning trip to the Munich Principality, celebrating the Passion of Jesus in St Peter's Square on Palm Sunday. "This is our God," he remarked, "a God who rejects war, whom no one can use to justify war, who does not listen to the prayers of those who make war and rejects them, saying, 'Even if you multiplied prayers, I would not listen: your hands drip blood'"
The Pope on Palm Sunday: Lay down your arms! You are brothers!
And again. "Looking" at Jesus "who was crucified for us, we see the crucified of humanity. In his wounds we see the wounds of so many women and men of today. In his last cry we hear the weeping of the downcast, the hopeless, the sick, the lonely. And above all we hear the wail of pain of all those who are oppressed by violence and of all the victims of war'. Hence a strong appeal: 'Have mercy! Lay down your arms, remember that you are brothers!"
"Close to Middle East Christians, they cannot live Easter rites"
"At the beginning of Holy Week, we are closer than ever in prayer to the Christians of the Middle East, who are suffering the consequences of an atrocious conflict and, in many cases, cannot fully experience the Rites of these Holy Days. Precisely as the Church contemplates the mystery of the Lord's Passion, we cannot forget those who today participate in a real way in His suffering", "let us raise our supplication so that" the Lord "may sustain the peoples wounded by war and open concrete paths of reconciliation and peace", said the Pope at the Angelus, pronounced shortly after the denunciation of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
Prayer for those who lost their lives in the Mediterranean
At the Angelus, the Pope also prayed "for all the migrants who have died at sea, especially those who have lost their lives in recent days off the island of Crete". Leo also entrusted "to the Lord the seafarers who are victims of war. I pray for the dead, the wounded and their families. Earth, sky and sea are created for life and for peace"
