Why would you have a problem with peace?
Saturday Post
Good morning and happy Saturday.
It almost seems that we have been living in a fever dream this week.
As the US war with Iran continues, Pope Leo XIV has done what many popes have done: urged peace. Nearly all of his comments, despite media interpretations, have not been directed at one side or the other; they have only been to urge the cause of peace.
Apparently, President Donald Trump isn’t taking it that way, nor are many of his supporters.
On Sunday night, President Trump launched a salvo against Pope Leo XIV on social media. He accused him of being “weak” on crime and poor on foreign policy. In his hubris, the president also claimed Pope Leo was only elected because he was the president.
What was the president’s screed in response to? The Holy Father’s call for peace.
During his prayer vigil for peace one week ago, the Pope said this:
Enough of the idolatry of self and money! Enough of the display of power! Enough of war! True strength is shown in serving life. …
Dear brothers and sisters, there are certainly binding responsibilities that fall to the leaders of nations. To them we cry out: Stop! It is time for peace! Sit at the table of dialogue and mediation, not at the table where rearmament is planned and deadly actions are decided!
The pope also made waves on Palm Sunday when he said, “[Jesus] does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them.” Though he did not mention it, his words are reminiscent of God’s words to Isaiah, condemning the Israelites for falling away from His ways:
When you spread forth your hands,
I will hide my eyes from you;
even though you make many prayers,
I will not listen;
your hands are full of blood. (1:15)
I have written here before on just war theory, particularly as outlined by St. Thomas Aquinas, and the need to have a just cause for the war. The angelic doctor, in the Summa Theologiae, says a just war requires the avenging of some wrong or restoration of something taken. It also must have a right intention, namely, advancing good or avoiding evil. (Secunda Secundae Partis, Q40A1)
Putting aside the absurd attack on the Holy Father, the president has had ample opportunity to make the case to the entire world that his war against Iran is just. He has not done so. Instead, his administration has provided shifting reasons for prosecuting this war:
January - Iran was killing protesters and the president threatened military intervention
February 24 - In his State of the Union address, the president said Iran was rebuilding its nuclear program
February 28 - The president launched US strikes against Iran and said they were enriching uranium
March 2 - Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US struck Iran to prevent a strike against the US
March 3 - The president said the US struck Iran because they fund terrorist organizations
March 6 - The president said on social media the war was an opportunity to end the Islamic Republic and install new leadership
March 9 - Republican Senator Lindsey Graham (SC) tells FOX News the US will make a “ton of money” on Iran’s oil reserves
April 2 - The president says he doesn’t “care” about Iran’s uranium stockpile
April 6 - The president says God is on US’ side because “God wants to see people taken care of”
Now, many, and even all, of these may be true. That doesn’t necessarily make the war just. Perhaps the only just cause was defending the Iranian people from the Islamic Republic’s crackdown on protesters.
Aquinas’ just war theory is grounded in past fault. It is reactive and punitive. Pre-emptive strikes do not meet the criteria for a just cause.
That being said, some late scholastic philosophers, such as Fr. Francisco de Vitoria, OP, writing in the 16th century, held that pre-emptive war could be just if an enemy was clearly about to attack. That criterion does not appear to have been met, even based on the statements from US officials. The possibility of eventually acquiring the means of attack does not clear the threshold.
Back to the Holy Father’s comments. Pope Leo XIV has repeatedly called for peace, disarmament, and nuclear non-proliferation. This week, he continues his travel through Africa, where in Cameroon, a country ravaged by civil war, he reiterated his call for peace, just as he has urged peace between the US and Iran.
I fully believe the pope is not naive about Iran’s nuclear ambitions and the challenges that it creates for the world. But as a preacher, the supreme preacher of the Gospel, he is going to preach and share the words of Jesus, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” (Matthew 5:9)
Pope Leo’s prayer is that of Psalm 122: “‘Peace be within your walls, and security within your towers!’ / For my brethren and companions’ sake I will say, ‘Peace be within you!’” It is a prayer for peace for the whole world. He is not taking one side or another.
If you have a problem with the Holy Father’s call for peace, I would urge you to spend some time in prayer and contemplation to discern why.
For further reading:
‘Enough of war!’: Full text of Pope Leo’s prayer for peace
Third Sunday of Easter
This Sunday, we continue to hear about the early Church and its determination to follow Jesus’ commands. The readings are: Acts 2:144, 22-44; Psalm 16; 1 Peter 1:17-21; and Luke 24:13-35.
Here is a calendar for the rest of the week:
Tuesday, April 21 - Memorial of St. Anselm, bishop and doctor (optional)
Thursday, April 23 - Memorial of St. Adalbert, bishop and martyr (optional) or Memorial of St. George, martyr (optional)
Friday, April 24 - Memorial of St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen, priest and martyr (optional)
Saturday, April 25 - Feast of St. Mark, evangelist
They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the scriptures?”
Luke 24:32
In the news:
The United States
Police reveal bomb threat at Chicago-area home of Pope Leo XIV’s brother - EWTN News
Carmelite sisters ask for prayers, donations after fire destroys retreat house - EWTN News
Your tribe is not your magisterium - Marcel LeJeune in Catholic Missionary Disciples
Dear JD Vance: The Iran war is very much Pope Leo’s business. - Terence Sweeney in America Magazine
The Vatican
Testimonies of joy, hope, and resilience at Pope’s meeting with Algerian community - ACI Africa
Pope convokes Consistory to reflect Evangelii gaudium - Vatican News
The World
French government engages in ‘general mobilization’ against pro-life activists - Crux
Asian bishops warn of global drift to war - UCA News
New study suggests Christopher Columbus was from Spanish nobility - EuroNews
Have a good weekend,
Matthew