White House responds on Pope Leo XIV's comments on wartime prayer

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said there's nothing wrong with praying for U.S. troops deployed in war zones. Leavitt was responding to a reporter's question about Pope Leo XIV's comments on Sunday, in which he said that God "does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war."

"Our nation was a nation founded 250 years ago almost, on Judeo Christian values, and 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 said. "I don't think there's anything wrong with our military leaders or with our president calling on the American people to pray for our service members and those who are serving our country overseas."

Leo dedicated his Palm Sunday homily to his insistence that God is the "king of peace" who rejects violence.

"Brothers and sisters, this is our God: Jesus, King of Peace, who rejects war, whom no one can use to justify war," Leo said. "He does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them, saying: 'Even though you make many prayers, I will not listen: your hands are full of blood.'"

Leaders on all sides of the Iran war have used religion to justify their actions.

U.S. officials have invoked their Christian faith in support of the war, especially Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who recently prayed to have "every round find its mark."