Does God Hear Soldiers Pray? Pastor Rodriguez Fires Back at Pope Leo XIV

Pastor Samuel Rodriguez Challenges Pope Leo XIV's Claim That God Ignores the Prayers of Soldiers

Pope Leo XIV made headlines last month when he declared before thousands at St. Peter's Basilica that Jesus "does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war." The statement, delivered during a prayer vigil for peace on April 11, came as the United States and Iran engaged in face to face negotiations in Pakistan amid a fragile ceasefire.

Now, one of America's most influential evangelical leaders has responded. Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference and lead pastor of New Season megachurch, published a detailed biblical rebuttal on April 26, 2026, through The Christian Post.

Rodriguez affirmed several of the Pope's core arguments. He agreed that political leaders should never misuse Scripture to justify military campaigns, citing Psalm 89:14:

"Righteousness and justice are the foundation of God's throne."

He also endorsed the Pope's emphasis on peacemaking, referencing Christ's words in Matthew 5:9: "Blessed are the peacemakers." On these points, Rodriguez wrote, the Pope is "completely and without qualification" right.

However, Rodriguez drew a firm line at the Pope's assertion that God closes His ears to those who wage war. He pointed to King David, described in Scripture as both "a man of war" and "a man after God's own heart," who prayed before every battle. He cited Joshua's prayers at the walls of Jericho and the Psalms' depictions of warriors seeking divine guidance.

Rodriguez argued that condemning leaders who weaponize faith to pursue war, including what he described as Iran's "hostile, antisemitic leaders," is a separate moral category from condemning soldiers who pray before missions to protect their families and nations.

"The question is not whether we should pray for peace. The question is whether God would ever close His ears to someone defending their family."

He called on the Church to balance calls for peace with pastoral engagement rather than distant condemnation, urging leaders to hold both justice and mercy together.

Evangelical Leader Breaks With Pope on Whether God Hears Soldiers' Prayers During War

The exchange highlights a growing theological fault line between Catholic and Protestant leaders on the morality of armed conflict. While Pope Leo XIV has positioned himself as a vocal anti war voice since taking the papacy, evangelical and Reformed voices have increasingly pointed to the just war tradition rooted in both Catholic and Protestant theology.

Rodriguez's response is significant because he did not dismiss the Pope outright. Instead, he drew careful distinctions between condemning the abuse of religion by warmongers and blanket condemnation of all who bear arms and pray. It is a nuance that resonates deeply with millions of Christian service members worldwide.

The Crusader's Opinion

Pope Leo is right that no politician should twist God's name to justify bloodshed for profit or power. On that, every honest Christian agrees. But telling soldiers that God turns a deaf ear when they pray before risking their lives to defend the innocent? That is not mercy. That is abandonment dressed in vestments. David prayed. Joshua prayed. The centurion whose faith amazed Christ himself was a soldier. Scripture does not support the idea that the battlefield is beyond God's reach. If anything, it is the place where His presence is needed most. We should pray for peace every single day, but we must never tell the men and women who stand between evil and the defenseless that heaven is closed to them.

Take Action

• Pray specifically for Christian service members deployed in the Middle East and their families back home. Write a letter of encouragement through Operation Gratitude.
• Support persecuted Christians in Iran and across the Middle East through www.TheShepherdsShield.org, which provides direct aid to believers facing hostility.
• Donate to Open Doors USA to support underground churches and persecuted believers in Iran, where converting from Islam to Christianity can carry a death sentence.
• Contact your elected representatives and urge them to pursue diplomatic solutions that protect religious minorities in Iran. Find your representatives at usa.gov/elected-officials.
• Share this article with your church community and small group. Start a conversation about what Scripture actually says about war, peace, and the prayers of those who defend the innocent.