Catholic Bishops of England Offer Firm Support of Pope Leo XIV "showing the world that in the face of war, God demands peace"
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales issued support for Pope Leo XIV in the face of recent comments attacking the Holy Father.
The Conference posted statements by two of its prominent Archbishops; Archbishop Richard Moth, Archbishop of Westminster, and Archbishop John Wilson, Archbishop of Southwark, firmly defending the pontiff in his stance against the war.
FULL TEXT STATEMENT by Archbishop Richard Moth, Archbishop of Westminster
Archbishop Richard Moth, Archbishop of Westminster, has offered his support and prayers to Pope Leo as the Holy Father arrives in Algeria on the first stage of his ten-day visit to Africa.
“We pray for Pope Leo XIV as he starts his Apostolic Journey in Africa,” said Archbishop Moth. “We continue to support his unstinting calls for peace and reconciliation across all areas of conflict.”
The Archbishop also stressed that we should combat indifference in the face of war and suffering:
“In my Easter message I said, ‘Humanity is marked, scarred, by warfare and injustice – often instigated by greed and misguided power – bringing harm and death to so many and often the most vulnerable’. We must never become indifferent to war, violence and suffering.
“We pray for peace, justice and reconciliation across the world and we pray for the Holy Father.”
Speaking to journalists on the plane to Algiers, a tradition on papal flights, Pope Leo answered questions about the statements US President Donald Trump made about him on the Truth Social network. Vatican News reported:
“The Pope stressed that he does ‘not see my role as that of a politician. I am not a politician, and I do not want to enter into a debate with him.’ Moreover, he continued, ‘I do not think the message of the Gospel should be abused as some are doing. I continue to speak strongly against war, seeking to promote peace, dialogue, and multilateralism among states to find solutions to problems. Too many people are suffering today, too many innocent lives have been lost, and I believe someone must stand up and say there is a better way’.”
Archbishop Richard Moth, Archbishop of Westminster, has offered his support and prayers to Pope Leo as the Holy Father arrives in Algeria on the first stage of his ten-day visit to Africa.
“We pray for Pope Leo XIV as he starts his Apostolic Journey in Africa,” said Archbishop Moth. “We continue to support his unstinting calls for peace and reconciliation across all areas of conflict.”
The Archbishop also stressed that we should combat indifference in the face of war and suffering:
“In my Easter message I said, ‘Humanity is marked, scarred, by warfare and injustice – often instigated by greed and misguided power – bringing harm and death to so many and often the most vulnerable’. We must never become indifferent to war, violence and suffering.
“We pray for peace, justice and reconciliation across the world and we pray for the Holy Father.”
Speaking to journalists on the plane to Algiers, a tradition on papal flights, Pope Leo answered questions about the statements US President Donald Trump made about him on the Truth Social network. Vatican News reported:
“The Pope stressed that he does ‘not see my role as that of a politician. I am not a politician, and I do not want to enter into a debate with him.’ Moreover, he continued, ‘I do not think the message of the Gospel should be abused as some are doing. I continue to speak strongly against war, seeking to promote peace, dialogue, and multilateralism among states to find solutions to problems. Too many people are suffering today, too many innocent lives have been lost, and I believe someone must stand up and say there is a better way’.”
FULL TEXT STATEMENT by Archbishop John Wilson, Archbishop of Southwark
Archbishop John Wilson, Archbishop of Southwark, has strongly asserted that the ‘message of the Gospel’ cannot be abused in the language used in the debate around war and conflict in Iran and the wider Middle East.
Archbishop Wilson defended Pope Leo as a courageous bridge-builder and peacemaker:
“Our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV is showing the world that in the face of war, God demands peace. As Pope Leo has made clear, we cannot stand by and allow the message of the Gospel to be abused.
“As bishops, we are not politicians, nor statesmen, nor do we pretend to have all the answers. But as followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, we know that each of us is called to be a beacon of His peace. We know that in the face of war, where so many innocent lives will be lost, we must be clear that God demands peace.
“Please join me in praying for peace and for Pope Leo XIV. May we all be as courageous as our Holy Father in proclaiming the truth that God demands peace.”
Archbishop John Wilson, Archbishop of Southwark, has strongly asserted that the ‘message of the Gospel’ cannot be abused in the language used in the debate around war and conflict in Iran and the wider Middle East.
Archbishop Wilson defended Pope Leo as a courageous bridge-builder and peacemaker:
“Our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV is showing the world that in the face of war, God demands peace. As Pope Leo has made clear, we cannot stand by and allow the message of the Gospel to be abused.
“As bishops, we are not politicians, nor statesmen, nor do we pretend to have all the answers. But as followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, we know that each of us is called to be a beacon of His peace. We know that in the face of war, where so many innocent lives will be lost, we must be clear that God demands peace.
“Please join me in praying for peace and for Pope Leo XIV. May we all be as courageous as our Holy Father in proclaiming the truth that God demands peace.”
Source: https://www.cbcew.org.uk/pope-leo-shows-the-world-that-god-demands-peace-in-the-face-of-war-says-archbishop/
https://www.cbcew.org.uk/archbishop-of-westminster-supports-popes-unstinting-calls-for-peace-and-reconciliation/
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