Pope Leo said, 'He [God] does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them'

Some may see this as “meddling,” since I’m a non-Catholic. I see only one church. We are “many members, but one body” (1 Corinthians 12:20). I have many wonderful friends and family members, who are Catholics, and most of them are faithful believers. I always look forward to getting a haircut because the woman who has cut my hair for the last 30 years (albeit, less to cut now) is a devout Christian and happens to be a Catholic. And we always have a great time of Christian fellowship (okay, some politics, too). So, it’s the leadership of Pope Leo who I’m taking issue with and not the rank and file Catholics.

All that said, I completely reject what Pope Leo said in Saint Peter’s Square in Vatican City on Sunday. It was unbiblical, politically naïve, and just plain foolish. With all due respect to the office of leadership, the Bible says, “Let God be true but every man a liar.” Every man … be you the Pope or anyone else if you contradict God’s Word.

In 1 Samuel 30, we find the story of David and his men returning home to Ziklag, only to find the Amalekites had burned it with fire and carried off the women and children (verses 1-2). In verse 8, we read, “Then David asked the Lord, ‘Should I chase after this band of raiders? Will I catch them?’ And the Lord told him, ‘Yes, go after them. You will surely recover everything that was taken from you!’” David and his men did go after them, and they did recover all (verses 18-20). 

God sent Gideon into battle against the Midianites (Judges 6-7). He sent Saul to war with the Amalekites (1 Samuel 15). He famously sent Joshua to conquer Jericho (Joshua 6). In fact, Joshua conquered 33 cities! Joshua 10:40: “So Joshua conquered all the land: the mountain country and the South and the lowland and the wilderness slopes, and all their kings; he left none remaining, but utterly destroyed all that breathed, as the Lord God of Israel had commanded.” It goes on to say in verse 42, “The Lord God of Israel fought for Israel.” Exodus 15:3 (TLV) tells us, “Adonai is a warrior—Adonai is His Name!” Let’s not forget, it was God Himself who told Moses to take a census to see how many men he had to go to war (Numbers 1).

Of course, in God’s original creation, there was no need for war; everything was perfect. And it will be that way again during the millennial reign of Yeshua. “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, The leopard shall lie down with the young goat, The calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little child shall lead them” (Isaiah 11:6). However, in the interim, we are having to deal with the evil in the earth that entered in the Garden of Eden after Adam and Eve sinned. God’s people must stand against the evil in the earth. Isaiah 59:19 says, “When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him.” And He often uses us—and technological advances that He gives us (i.e. Iron Dome)—to be that standard. We are “the salt of the earth” (Matthew 5:13) and “the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14).

I wonder if Pope Leo is aware that at Jesus Christ’s Second Coming, He Himself will wage war against Israel’s enemies! (See Zechariah 14:2, Revelation 19:11-16).

Some might argue, “How could a God of love be for the war in Iran?” It’s the God of love who wants to protect millions from a nuclear bomb.  

Last year Pope Leo “blessed” a block of glacial ice retrieved from Greenland to raise awareness of “climate change.” First of all, there are more than a billion people looking to him for spiritual guidance, so I don’t think it was appropriate to participate in climate alarmism, which is not supported by scripture. Some use scriptures like 2 Peter 3:10-13 and Revelation 16:8 that talk about the earth being burned up, to advance their global warming doctrine. But those scriptures refer to the end of the age when God’s judgement is poured out, after which, He will create a new heaven and a new earth (2 Peter 3:13, Isaiah 65:17, Revelation 21:1). NEWS FLASH: When God’s judgement is poured out on the earth, it’s not going to make any difference whether you’re driving a brand-new electric car or a 1965 Mustang! 

But secondly, it’s not even supported by science. Recent NASA photos show that the glaciers are actually growing. And I’m certain that God’s not in panic mode because the oceans are rising the thickness of two nickels per year. Proverbs 8:29 tells us, “He assigned to the sea its limit, So that the waters would not transgress His command.” In Psalm 89:9, the Psalmist cried to the Lord, “You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, you still them.” Let us not forget about the flood in Noah’s day. Genesis 7:19 tells us, “The water covered even the highest mountains on the earth, rising more than twenty-two feet above the highest peaks.” Mount Everest is 29,029 feet above sea level. The point is that our earth is quite resilient. If it can withstand more than 29,000 feet of water, I think it can handle the thickness of two nickels just fine. I think his time and efforts would be better spent on biblical issue like abortion.

The Pope had no biblical basis to say that “He [God] does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them.” And to claim to know which prayers God listens to and which ones He rejects—apart from scripture—is outrageous. What’s even more outrageous is the fact that the Scriptures actually reveal the opposite is true. God has been leading His people into wars for thousands of years. And Jesus said there will always be “wars and rumors of wars” (Matthew 24:6), so Pope Leo might as well get used to them.