Pope Leo's Peace Push Amid War

0:00It's March 29th. Global news today starts now, AI-powered and worldwide. I'm Cory with the story. Pope Leo the 14th laid it down clear on Palm Sunday, telling tens of thousands in St. Peter's Square that God rejects war and can't be used to. Justify it. He called Jesus the king of peace who comforts the oppressed and prayed hard for Christians in the Middle East facing brutal conflict. Meanwhile, the U.S. and Israel war against Iran hits its second month, with Russia's invasion of Ukraine still raging. Leaders on all sides, from U.S. defense officials to Russian Orthodox voices, have leaned on faith to defend their military moves. In Jerusalem, police blocked top Catholic leaders from the Holy Sepulchre Church for the first time in centuries, shutting sacred sites over security. Fears tied to the Iran fight. Christians there struggle to even hold their holy weak rights amid the chaos. Leo urged everyone to remember folks suffering worldwide like Christ did, pushing prayers for

1:01the wounded, and real past to reconciliation. He's bringing back traditions too, by the Holy Thursday footwashing at St. John Latter in Basilica, echoing past popes. As holy weak rolls on, Leo leads good Friday at the Colosseum, late night Easter vigil baptisms, and Easter Sunday mass with that big blessing from the Basilica. In these tense times, his peace push lands even heavier.