Post by Konstantinos Apostolatos

"Let us abandon every desire for conflict, domination, and power". Pope Leo stated on Easter, imploring the Lord to grant peace to a world ravaged by wars and marked by hatred and indifference that make us feel powerless in the face of evil. In January, Under Secretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby summoned Cardinal Christophe Pierre, Pope Leo XIV’s then-ambassador to the United States, and delivered a lecture asserting that America has the military power to do whatever it wants in the world. Colby invoked the Avignon Papacy, a time when the French Crown used military force against the bishop of Rome, ultimately leading to the death of Pope Boniface VIII. This administration has directly threatened the Vatican with war and the Pope with death—shocking, unprecedented, and appalling. Pope Leo has been clear in his stance against the war in Iran, stating that the Secretary of War has “blood on his hands.” He has also declined the President’s invitation to the United States’ 250th anniversary celebrations in July, choosing instead to visit Lampedusa to demonstrate his love and care for immigrants—a powerful symbolic statement. As someone born and raised in the Christian Orthodox faith, I may not be Catholic or a practicing religious person, but I embrace the fundamental values of Christianity and applaud the Pope’s leadership and courage. Regardless of your religion or politics, it is time to raise your voice and declare that we are well beyond the lowest point. Enough is enough! Meanwhile, during this so-called ‘ceasefire,’ the family of one of our dear colleagues remains terrified by the continued bombardments in Lebanon.