Amid the ongoing war in the Middle East, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa has issued a strong warning against using religion to justify violence, calling it “the gravest sin” in the present moment.
Speaking during a webinar organized by the Oasis Foundation, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem stressed that war must not be cloaked in religious language. He emphasized that conflicts are often driven by political and material interests, warning against what he described as “pseudo-religious language” that manipulates God’s name for human agendas.
Cardinal Pizzaballa’s remarks came in response to references made during a U.S. military briefing, where a passage from the Book of Psalms was cited to invoke divine blessing on military actions. Rejecting such interpretations, he insisted that faith must never be used to legitimize war or violence. Reflecting on the suffering across the region, the cardinal affirmed that if God is present in this conflict, He is found not among those who wage war, but among those who suffer, die, and endure oppression throughout the Middle East.
He further stressed the importance of truth, noting that in times of war, information itself can become a weapon. Despite the challenges, he urged believers and communicators to continue speaking truth and rejecting narratives that distort faith for violence.
In a region marked by conflict, division, and deep suffering, his message stands as a powerful Christian reminder: God is never a justification for war, but a presence among its victims.