When I was a child, my little brother and I would sometimes fight. It often went something like this: I’d be playing. My brother would want attention or whatever I was playing with. He’d do something obnoxious maybe pushing or hitting me. I’d push or hit him back. My dad would come into the room angry because of our fighting. We’d both be threatened with consequences. I’d shout my lament, “But he started it!” And my dad would say, “Well, I’m finishing it. You are both wrong.”
Amidst the war game themed memes from the US and LEGO themed propaganda from Iran, a serious conversation has begun…again. When does a nation have the right to attack another nation? Historically, Western Christians have wrestled with this issue using theological, often scholarly, arguments and rebuttals over many centuries. A major component of our understanding for Roman Catholics and many Protestants is Just War Theory. Certainly, it’s not perfect, but it is helpful. And priests, pastors, full time theologians and ethicists of many stripes continue to consider it as part of further, later discernment.
Saint Augustine (13 November 354 – 28 August 430) is often recognized as its first proponent. In modern form, it applies within three specific areas:
- jus ad bellum (“right to go to war”);
- jus in bello (“right conduct in war”);
- and some recently speak for jus post bellum (dealing with the morality and ethics related to post-war settlement and reconstruction).
Pope Leo’s recent comments criticizing the US-Iran undeclared war (or “short-term excursion” in the words of President Trump) are rooted in this theory as well as other moral and ethical teachings – ultimately scripture. Pope Leo has a doctorate in Cannon Law, and as a member of the Augustinian Order, he certainly has expertise in all things St. Augustine. You can’t do much better (even if as a Lutheran we wouldn’t see eye to eye on all things).
The National Catholic Register is a traditionalist Roman Catholic news source in the United States. In a recent article, they argue, “Pope Leo’s insistence that war offends God should be understood as a prohibition against all but legitimate defensive actions, a view that is consistent with the pleas for peace issued by recent popes such as Francis, Benedict XVI and St. John Paul II.” They discuss how and why theologians are “pushing back” at all those in the United States criticizing him. They are focused on Roman Catholic theologians, but many Protestant ones would agree.
When I shared the article with comments, a friend suggested he took issue with Pope Leo not casting blame on the Iranians. After all, the Iranians have done many evil things including attacks on US forces since the 1970s. The US seemed to be responding to a threat. It did not start this in his mind, so why the apparent focus on President Trump? That’s a fair and common critique and question that I’ve been hearing, so let’s discuss it.
Certainly, one is absolutely correct that Iran has been an illicit source of carnage and war since the 1970s. One should trust that the Pope realizes this as well. The Iranians might not be Christian, but they have some culpability morally and ethically for their actions as anyone would be under Catholic, most Protestant or Orthodox teaching. These moral and ethical arguments thought true regardless of one’s personal belief, because they are thought to reflect God’s heart and will for us.
So, Pope Leo didn’t have to name anyone and didn’t – a somewhat political move perhaps at some level but also the correct one. He’s speaking to the world, not just the combatants. (In his later comments in Africa, he clearly denied allegations that his call for peace there was aimed at the President.) Again, Just War Theory, as a reflection of God’s own Law and Gospel, applies to everyone. To US ears, his comments likely appeared more about the President partly because of the full context of the US and Israel’s recent attacks. Many in the Church hold this heating up of the conflict does not meet the standard. Many outside the Church also express deep concerns,
It is helpful to recall that the Catholic Church tends to assert their arguments about conflict using a somewhat academic methodology. Theology is called the Queen of the Sciences after all. And as you hopefully know, solid academics, particularly theology, remains imbedded in who the Catholic Church is. (Meanwhile, the Lutheran World Federation has been less academic in its argument thus far, more diplomatic-speak perhaps, but also based on scriptural understanding and calling all parties to back away from hostilities.)
After all the headlines, I’ve not heard a single Roman Catholic bishop or Cardinal disagree with the Pope as of yet, but some might be out there. The National Catholic Register, again a traditionalist or conservative paper, is supporting him as is the pro-Vatican II National Catholic Reporter. (If the Pope was being wrongheaded, trust that the National Catholic Register would find a way to say it.) I expect this is because Pope Leo’s teaching was deemed correct under the theory and other teachings of the Church. It might sound like an attack to some, but note know names were included.
So, why in more detail might people hear the Pope’s comments the wrong way? First, Iran is an overwhelmingly Muslim nation. (Would they even listen?) Meanwhile, the US is thought by many to be an overtly “Christian nation.” Over 50% of Roman Catholics voted for this President and his administration’s policies. On top of that, some voices in the administration and supporters have been overtly framing this as conflict supported by God and some even an overtly Christian verses Muslim conflict. Thus, Pope Leo’s comments obviously resonate with Christians and Catholics in the US more – positively and negatively- as a result. They challenge assumptions and one’s conscience more easily in the US and West than in a Muslim country.
Yet, the Pope’s explicit statements in no way excuse Iran for their wrongs. They are indicted too. Wrong is wrong. The reaction from the government and many on air or social media supporters tended to frame his comments incorrectly saying he said what he did not say. He does not misunderstand the teachings of the majority of the Church as some suggest. He’s not misapplying them as accused. He has not argued that he wants Iran to have nuclear weapons. And what he did say should not reasonably be understood to indicate that he does. The Pope never questioned self defense and was not critiquing forces in World War 2. That’s all a deflective rhetorical brouhaha. (Is that theological term?)
With all the above, one should consider if what the US and Israel did in escalation meets the standard of Just War and other teachings about peace including scripture. According to Just War Theory’s “right to go to war” standard:
Were the US and Israeli attacks reasonably a last resort? People disagree on the immediate threat posed by Iran or any other options to migrate them, and there’s been few clear, detailed insights as to why we attacked now. Was it declared by proper authority for a just cause (e.g., self-defense)? Congress still hasn’t voted, and any attempt to vote has been blocked. Has it been conducted proportionally, minimizing civilian harm? For one high profile example, the Minab school strike in Iran, which killed over 100 children, is considered one of the worst mass civilian casualty incidents involving U.S. That attack also raises other moral questions about the use of AI for war.
Hence, again, in this fuller context, the US Catholic Conference of Bishops (USCCB) and others have been trying to point people not toward politics or just one person’s fault but ultimately toward peace using the standards long established within the Catholic (and most Christian denominations’ or catholic meaning universal) world. Also, Trump made things worse when he threatened to wipe out a “whole civilization,” and Hegseth doesn’t help with his explicitly “Christian” imprecatory prayers. Of course, Hegseth’s denomination is self-described as Christian nationalist arguing for a literal theocracy under Old Testament Law (hence their leader’s recent suggestion that Catholic public processions should be illegal), so all those prayers and statements echo his worldview.
Recall, Hegseth expects a literal thousand year Christian reign before Jesus returns (dominionism) where Catholics, Anglicans, Lutherans, Orthodox and most Christians in the world (numerically) believe in amillennialism. Jesus can come at any time, and we pray for that. The majority of Trump’s spiritual advisors are New Apostolic Reformation (also dominionist). They lean toward seeing spiritual warfare everywhere and tend to be cult-like. Dominionism is not the norm for the vast majority of Christians, and it is morally and ethically problematic as people in power concretely hope to see it play out. We should expect that it helps shape both worldview and actions.
Agree with him fully or not, it is good that the Pope is speaking clearly. It is good Christians in the West are being forced to wrestle with the use of violence. If you haven’t read the information coming from the Vatican and USCCB or the majority of Catholic scholars about this, seek it out. Read what your denomination and other Christians are saying, and not just US Christians. Talk to priests and pastors you know and trust who know something on this part of Christian history.
I understand that you might never fully agree with what the Pope says, but when it comes to war and peace, his words are worth considering. They will and should challenge us all. And in the end, most of worldwide Christendom teaches all war is steeped in sin, a reflection of humanity’s fallen condition even when necessary for defense. It’s not God’s will for us.
The US might not have ultimately started this conflict with Iran, but Pope Leo and many in the universal Church are trying to stop it. We should consider what is being said, and meanwhile as we do, you and I can (and should) pray together for a quick, just peace, any victims of war, and our enemies. Certainly, we Children of God have a lot left to learn about our call to peace.
© 2026 The Rev. Louis Florio. All content not held under another’s copyright may not be used without permission of the author unless under terms of fair use and properly attributed. Scripture passages when used are from the NRSVue translation unless otherwise indicated.
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