Vatican Denies Its Ambassador Was 'Reprimanded' by US, Pope Criticizes Language of Bombs

Pope Leo XIV of the Vatican today, Friday, issued strong statements implicitly criticizing the military policies of both the United States and Israel in the Middle East. The Pontiff affirmed that faith in Christ is incompatible with the practices of violence and the dropping of bombs currently witnessed in the region.

Through his official account on the 'X' platform, the Pope stressed that the Creator does not bless armed conflicts in any way. He clarified that those who follow the path of the 'Prince of Peace' cannot side with those who have chosen the language of the sword and bombing as a means of dealing with international crises.

Pope Leo XIV indicated that military operations and wars will not open horizons for freedom or establish sustainable peace in the world. He considered that the only way to achieve stability is through promoting the values of coexistence and managing dialogue between peoples with patience and deliberation.

These positions come amidst escalating international criticism directed at Washington and Tel Aviv, especially with the use of religious rhetoric in the context of military confrontation with Iran. Observers believe that these statements reflect the Church's concern about the transformation of political disputes into wars with a sacred character.

In a related context, the Vatican quickly denied reports that its former ambassador in Washington had been reprimanded by the US Department of War. This denial came concurrently with similar clarifications issued by the Pentagon to calm the charged diplomatic atmosphere.

An official spokesperson for the Holy See stated that the journalistic accounts circulated by some media outlets regarding last January's meeting were completely inaccurate. He affirmed that what was published had no connection to the truth, emphasizing the strength of existing diplomatic relations.

Press reports had claimed that Cardinal Christophe Pierre received a sharp reprimand from US Under Secretary of War for Policy, Elbridge Colby. These reports alleged that the American side demanded the Church explicitly support the military power of the United States.

For its part, the Pentagon, in an official statement, described these reports as greatly exaggerated and distorted and not reflective of the nature of the discussion. The statement clarified that the meeting was a respectful discussion that addressed issues of ethics in foreign policy and national security strategies in various regions.

In turn, the US Ambassador to the Vatican, Bryan Birch, confirmed that he had contacted Cardinal Pierre, who in turn denied the validity of those claims. The Cardinal described the meeting as 'frank and very friendly,' and falling within the usual routine diplomatic encounters.

Matteo Bruni, Director of the Holy See Press Office, explained that the dialogue with American officials addressed matters of common interest. He indicated that the meeting was part of the normal activities of the Papal Envoy within the framework of his diplomatic duties in Washington.

It is worth noting that Pope Leo XIV represents a unique case as the first Pope of American origin to assume the leadership of the Catholic Church. Despite this, he takes cautious and sometimes critical stances towards the directions of President Donald Trump's administration, especially regarding diplomacy based on force.

The Pontiff had previously called, on occasions including his Easter address, for influential international powers to choose the path of peace instead of igniting wars. The Church continues to emphasize the necessity of prioritizing peaceful solutions over military options in all global conflict zones.

God does not bless any conflict, and whoever follows Christ, the Prince of Peace, cannot stand with those who carried the sword yesterday and drop bombs today.