Pope Condemns Trump's Threat to Bomb Iran as Blasphemous

Religious leaders warn that invoking God to justify war will only lead to more violence and destruction.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 3:43pm

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A moody, cinematic painting of a solitary church steeple silhouetted against a stormy sky, evoking a sense of spiritual unease and the looming threat of conflict.As religious rhetoric escalates the conflict, the looming threat of all-out war casts a dark shadow over the nation's spiritual foundations.Washington Today

In the wake of Donald Trump's threat to 'bomb Iran back to the Stone Age,' Pope Leo XIV has condemned the attempt to frame the conflict with Iran as a holy crusade of 'Jesus vs. Allah.' The Pope warned that using religion to justify the destruction of an entire civilization is blasphemous and will only lead to more violence and suffering. He reminded world leaders that God does not listen to the prayers of those whose hands are stained with the blood of combat.

Why it matters

For decades, the US has defined itself in opposition to regimes like Iran's, where religion and power are fused. Now, as tensions escalate, the language coming out of Washington is beginning to echo this religious extremism, with figures like Trump's spiritual advisor and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth invoking biblical terms and claiming divine purpose. This dangerous fusion of faith and militarism risks turning the conflict into an unending religious war with no bounds.

The details

Trump's threat to 'bomb Iran back to the Stone Age' would cause immeasurable suffering and death, amounting to the destruction of an entire civilization. International leaders have warned that targeting civilian infrastructure on that scale would be a war crime. However, in a conflict where God is invoked to justify violence, such warnings are dismissed as 'atheist.' The Pope warned that once people are convinced God is on their side, it becomes nearly impossible to stop the conflict from escalating.

  • Last week, at a White House Easter event, Trump's spiritual advisor Paula White-Cain compared him to Jesus Christ.
  • On Easter Sunday, Pope Leo XIV continued to speak out against the war and the attempt to frame it as a holy crusade.

The players

Pope Leo XIV

The current Pope who has condemned the attempt to frame the conflict with Iran as a holy crusade of 'Jesus vs. Allah.'.

Donald Trump

The former US President who threatened to 'bomb Iran back to the Stone Age.'

Paula White-Cain

Donald Trump's spiritual advisor who compared him to Jesus Christ at a White House Easter event.

Pete Hegseth

The current US Defense Secretary who has described military operations in overtly biblical terms, creating a dangerous fusion of faith and militarism.

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What they’re saying

“No one can use Jesus to justify war. God simply does not listen to the prayers of those whose hands are stained with the blood of combat.”

— Pope Leo XIV, Pope

“A whole civilization will die tonight.”

— Paula White-Cain, Trump's Spiritual Advisor

What’s next

The Pope has called for world leaders to reject the attempt to frame the conflict with Iran as a holy war and instead focus on diplomatic solutions to de-escalate the tensions.

The takeaway

This conflict risks turning into an unending religious war with no bounds if the US continues to invoke God and religious language to justify military action against Iran. Religious leaders have warned that this dangerous fusion of faith and militarism will only lead to more violence and suffering, and that God does not listen to the prayers of those whose hands are stained with the blood of combat.