Pope Leo XIV declared Sunday that God does not listen to the prayers of leaders who wage war, delivering pointed remarks during Palm Sunday Mass at St. Peter's Square before tens of thousands of attendees.

Speaking to the crowd, the pontiff said God ignores the prayers of those with "hands full of blood" and emphasized that Jesus rejects violence. "Brothers and sisters, this is our God: Jesus, King of Peace, who rejects war, whom no one can use to justify war," the Pope stated.

The remarks came as thousands of U.S. troops were arriving in the Middle East amid ongoing regional tensions. The Pope's comments followed recent statements by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who had prayed for violence against enemies "who deserve no mercy."

During the Palm Sunday service, Pope Leo XIV specifically prayed for Christians in the Middle East and rejected claims that God justifies warfare. The Pope's message emphasized themes of peace and non-violence as central to Christian teaching.

The timing of the Pope's statements has drawn attention given current Middle East conflicts and recent U.S. military deployments to the region. Pope Leo XIV, noted as the first American pope, cited biblical passages in his remarks about peace and the rejection of war.