Pope Leo XIV Calls for Peace on Easter as Trump Issues Fiery Warning to Iran

Easter Sunday 2026 delivered a striking contrast on the world stage: the newly elected pope urged world leaders to choose dialogue over conflict, while President Trump posted a profanity-laced ultimatum directed at Iran. The divide between the Vatican and the White House has rarely been so visible — or so public.

Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born pope in history, used his first Easter Mass to deliver a message centered on peace. Speaking to a global audience, he urged humanity to open itself to the love of Jesus Christ and challenged those with military power to step back from the brink.

"Let us allow our hearts to be transformed by his immense love for us. Let those who have weapons lay them down," the pontiff . "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."

The speech came as tensions between the United States and Iran continue to escalate. Trump has threatened to bomb bridges, energy facilities, water systems, and oil infrastructure inside Iran if no deal is reached by Tuesday to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping lane that has been severely restricted. On Easter Sunday itself, Trump took to social media with a blunt and increasingly aggressive message directed at Iran's leadership: "Open the Fuckin' Strait, you crazy bastards, or you'll be living in Hell — JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah."

The contrast between the two messages drew widespread attention, particularly among American Catholics, who now find their church's leadership openly at odds with the policies of a sitting U.S. president.

Military Archbishop Weighs In

Archbishop Timothy Broglio, who leads the Catholic Archdiocese for the Military Services USA — the branch of the Catholic Church that ministers to U.S. troops — also appeared on Easter Sunday, speaking to CBS News' Face the Nation. He acknowledged the religious weight of the moment while stopping short of directly condemning the administration.

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

Broglio noted that Jesus "certainly brought a message of peace" and that going to war is "always" a last resort. He acknowledged that Trump officials "may have information that led them to think" war "was the only choice they had," but said he could not make a full judgment without knowing what is driving the conflict behind closed doors.

White House Pushes Back

The friction between the Vatican and Washington is not new. Pope Leo has repeatedly spoken out against the Iran war, and U.S. Catholic leaders have also raised moral concerns about the administration's immigration policies. Just days before Easter, Leo's Palm Sunday homily included the statement that Jesus "does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them."

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, who is herself Catholic, addressed those remarks last Monday when asked directly about the pope's words.

"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 Pope Leo's Easter remarks.