Statement of Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades in Support of Pope Leo XIV

Like Archbishop Coakley, I too was disheartened by President Trump’s disparaging words about our Holy Father this past Sunday. Pope Leo XIV is a messenger of the Gospel and, as he himself said, “not a politician.” Of course, our Holy Father is called to be a herald of peace. He is the Vicar of Christ, the Prince of Peace. He has the responsibility as pastor of the universal Church and successor of Saint Peter to proclaim the Gospel, to defend human life and dignity, and to advocate for peace among peoples and nations. The Holy Father points us to our Lord’s teaching in the Sermon on the Mount, “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9). And he reminds us of our moral obligation to seek, promote, and pursue peace and to avoid war. This is indeed a matter of morality about which the Church’s voice needs to be heard.

Last week, the Holy Father noted that “rejecting the logic of war may lead to misunderstanding and scorn.” He also explained that the Church “proclaims the Gospel of peace and instills obedience to God rather than any human authority, especially when the inherent dignity of other human beings is threatened by continuous violations of international law.” I am grateful that Pope Leo XIV continues to courageously proclaim the Gospel of peace, even when criticized or ridiculed. Let us pray for our Holy Father, our government leaders, and other leaders of nations. Let us continue to pray for peace in the Middle East and other troubled areas of the world.