White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt responded after Pope Leo XIV criticized war and said that God does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war.
The Pope made the remarks during a religious address, where he spoke about war, peace, and the humanitarian consequences of ongoing conflicts. He said that Jesus rejects war and does not listen to the prayers of those whose “hands are full of blood.”
During a press briefing, a reporter asked Leavitt to respond to the Pope’s comments. She defended the idea of leaders asking Americans to pray for military members and those serving overseas.
“Our nation was founded on Judeo-Christian values,” she said, adding that presidents, military leaders, and troops have turned to prayer during difficult periods in U.S. history.
She continued by saying there was nothing wrong with leaders asking people to pray for service members, calling it “a very noble thing to do.”
The exchange comes as tensions remain high over ongoing military operations overseas, with religion and politics increasingly becoming part of the public debate surrounding the conflict.
The Pope has repeatedly called for peace and warned about the humanitarian impact of war, while the White House has defended its actions and continued to frame support for troops as both patriotic and moral.
