Let us be clear: the Pope is not "preaching politics." He is continuing and further emphasizing his prophetic warning that "darkness is about to engulf the earth." His aim is to proclaim the gospel that the Paschal Mystery of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus is our salvation and our hope. Jesus wins the decisive victory over all the violence that is brought to bear against Him, by answering it with the wonderful and incomprehensible love of His Most Compassionate Heart.
This is the all-encompassing victory of forgiving love that pertains to each one of us, that is given to free us from our own sins - from the "small wars" that rage in our hearts and strike out against Him and against our brothers and sisters. Christ alone saves us from our sins.
But the war attacks and afflicts human persons whom Christ has united with Himself, and sets forces in motion that may reek havoc on millions (or billions) of people all over the world. Pope Leo is insisting that we stop waging war against one another, and instead turn to Christ and beg Him to draw us closer to Himself and one another, to pour out into our hearts the Holy Spirit who makes us peacemakers.
From today's homily by Pope Leo XIV for Psalm Sunday (excerpts from Vatican website):
"We turn our gaze to Jesus, who reveals himself as King of Peace, even as war looms around him. He remains steadfast in meekness, while others are stirring up violence. He offers himself to embrace humanity, even as others raise swords and clubs. He is the light of the world, though darkness is about to engulf the earth. He came to bring life, even as plans unfold to condemn him to death.
"King of Peace. Jesus’ desire is to bring the world into the Father’s arms, tearing down every barrier that separates us from God and from our neighbor, for 'He is our peace' (Eph 2:14).
"King of Peace. Jesus enters into Jerusalem not upon a horse, but upon a donkey, fulfilling the ancient prophecy that calls for rejoicing at the arrival of the Messiah: 'Lo, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. He will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the war-horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall be cut off, and he shall command peace to the nations' (Zech 9:9–10).
"King of Peace. When one of his disciples drew his sword to defend him and struck the high priest’s servant, Jesus immediately stopped him, saying: 'Put your sword back into its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword' (Mt 26:52).
"King of Peace. While he was burdened with our sufferings and pierced for our sins, Jesus 'did not open his mouth, like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent' (Is 53:7). He did not arm himself, or defend himself, or fight any war. He revealed the gentle face of God, who always rejects violence. Rather than saving himself, he allowed himself to be nailed to the cross, embracing every cross borne in every time and place throughout human history.
"Brothers and sisters, this is our God: Jesus, King of Peace, who rejects war, whom no one can use to justify war. He does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them, saying: 'Even though you make many prayers, I will not listen: your hands are full of blood' (Is 1:15).
"As we set our gaze upon him who was crucified for us, we can see a crucified humanity. In his wounds, we see the hurts of so many women and men today. In his last cry to the Father, we hear the weeping of those who are crushed, who have no hope, who are sick and who are alone. Above all, we hear the painful groans of all those who are oppressed by violence and are victims of war.
