Pope Leo XIV Says God Won't Hear Soldiers' Prayers. One Pastor Just Opened His Bible and Proved Him Wrong.
Pope Leo XIV declared God does not hear the prayers of those who wage war. Rev. Samuel Rodriguez opened his Bible and respectfully disagreed.
Does God Hear the Prayers of Soldiers? Pope Leo XIV Says No, But the Bible Says Otherwise
Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope in history, stood before tens of thousands in St. Peter's Square last month and declared that Jesus "does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war." He called for an end to the conflict in Iran and warned against the weaponization of God's name to justify military campaigns.
Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, lead pastor of New Season Church and president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference (NHCLC), responded with a detailed biblical examination of the Pope's statement. Writing in The Christian Post, Rodriguez acknowledged areas of agreement while challenging what he called an overreach of Scripture.
When political leaders reach for Scripture to sanctify bombs, they are not honoring God. They are using Him. And the Church has a shared obligation to say so, loudly and without apology.
Rodriguez affirmed the Pope's condemnation of leaders who exploit faith to justify war, particularly Iran's "hostile, antisemitic leaders" who have framed military campaigns as divine mandates. He cited Psalm 89:14, emphasizing that righteousness, justice, love, and faithfulness form God's foundation, not military superiority.
However, Rodriguez took direct issue with the Pope's blanket statement that God does not hear the prayers of those who wage war. He pointed to David, "a man of war" whom Scripture calls "a man after God's own heart," who cried out to God before every battle and received answers. He cited Joshua falling on his face before the Lord at Jericho, and Psalm 91's promise that God will be a refuge and fortress to all who call upon Him.
Are we really to tell them that God has closed His ears because of the uniform they wear? That is not the God of the Bible.
Rodriguez urged the Church to "call for peace without abandoning those who serve" and to "speak truth to political power without politicizing the Gospel." He stressed that the rightful target of rebuke is political leaders who exploit faith, not soldiers who bow their heads before a mission asking God to bring them home.
Pope Leo XIV's Controversial Claim About Soldiers' Prayers Sparks Biblical Debate Among Christian Leaders
The debate comes amid escalating tensions over the U.S. and Israeli military campaign in Iran. Pope Leo XIV held an evening peace vigil at St. Peter's Basilica on April 11, 2026, denouncing the "delusion of omnipotence" driving the conflict and demanding political leaders negotiate peace. Rodriguez acknowledged that Christians across the Middle East could not even observe Holy Week in peace this year.
Rodriguez concluded by calling for engagement rather than condemnation from a distance, urging what he called "the pastoral conversation that does not make the front page but changes the heart of the person in the room."
The Crusader's Opinion
I respect the Pope's platform and his desire for peace. Every Christian should. But telling a 19 year old soldier on a military base that God won't hear his prayer because he's wearing a uniform? That's not theology. That's cruelty dressed in vestments. David was a warrior and God called him His own. Joshua led armies and Heaven responded. The Bible is clear: God does not reject the broken cry of a soldier facing death. The real evil here is political leaders, in Tehran and elsewhere, who wrap genocidal ambitions in religious language. Condemn them. But leave the men and women who serve out of it. They deserve our prayers, not our silence.
Take Action
- Pray for soldiers serving overseas and their families. Write a letter of encouragement through Operation Gratitude.
- Support persecuted Christians in the Middle East who could not worship freely this Easter through Open Doors or Voice of the Martyrs.
- Donate to The Shepherd's Shield to support Christians facing persecution worldwide.
- Contact your representatives and urge diplomatic solutions for the Iran conflict. Find your representatives at usa.gov/elected-officials.
- Share this article and start a conversation at your church about how Christians can pursue peace while supporting those who serve.
