In a statement released on April 10, 2026, Pope Leo XIV declared that “God does not bless any conflict.” The claim has been criticized by religious scholars who point to multiple biblical instances where God explicitly blessed military engagements.

According to the critique, the Bible contains over 40 explicit examples of divine involvement in conflicts, including Abraham’s victory over kings (Genesis 14) and the Israelites’ crossing of the Red Sea (Exodus 14). These events demonstrate that God has historically endorsed military actions through direct commands and interventions.

Additionally, Pope Leo XIV recently canonized Carlo Acutis, a 15-year-old Italian who died of leukemia in 2006, as the Catholic Church’s first millennial saint on September 7, 2025. The ceremony also included Pier Giorgio Frassatti, another young person who died in 1925.