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Pope Leo calls out ‘delusion of omnipotence’ fueling Iran war in vigil for peace at St. Peter’s Basilica

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Pope Leo in a Saturday vigil for peace, called out the «delusion of omnipotence» he claimed is fueling war.
«In prayer, our limited human possibilities are joined to the infinite possibilities of God. Thoughts, words and deeds then break the demonic cycle of evil and are placed at the service of the Kingdom of God,» he said in a prayer service at St. Peter’s Basilica.
He continued, «A Kingdom in which there is no sword, no drone, no vengeance, no trivialization of evil, no unjust profit, but only dignity, understanding and forgiveness. It is here that we find a bulwark against that delusion of omnipotence that surrounds us and is becoming increasingly unpredictable and aggressive.»
In posts on X and during the prayer vigil, the pontiff also warned that war «divides» while hope and faith unite humanity.
TRUMP’S LAST-MINUTE DELAY: WHY HE WAS NEVER GOING TO OBLITERATE IRAN IN THE FIRST PLACE
Pope Leo XIV leads a vigil for peace inside St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican on Saturday. (Gregorio Borgia/AP Photo)
«Enough of the idolatry of self and money. Enough of the display of power. Enough of war,» he wrote. «True strength is shown in serving life.»
The archbishop of Tehran, Belgian Cardinal Dominique Joseph Mathieu, was among those in the pews.
Leo’s words came on the same day the Vice President JD Vance and a U.S. delegation began face-to-face talks with Iran amid an uneasy ceasefire.
MIKE PENCE WARNS JD VANCE TO AVOID OBAMA-STYLE IRAN DEAL AS NUCLEAR TALKS SET TO BEGIN IN PAKISTAN
They were some of the first American pontiff’s strongest words yet after he called President Donald Trump’s threat against Iran on Tuesday «truly unacceptable.»
«Today, as we all know, there has also been this threat against the entire people of Iran, and this is truly unacceptable,» the pope said earlier this week. «There are certainly issues of international law here, but even more so a moral issue for the good of the whole entire population.»

Pope Leo XIV speaks to the media on the U.S.–Israeli conflict with Iran, as he leaves the papal residence to head back to the Vatican, April 7, in Castel Gandolfo, Italy. (Guglielmo Mangiapane/Reuters)
Trump had written on Truth Social «A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will… God Bless the Great People of Iran!»
Hours later, the president announced a two-week ceasefire subject to Iran agreeing to «the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz,» the president wrote in another post.
As the high-stakes talks began on Saturday is Islamabad, Trump told reporters outside of the White House: «We win regardless of what happens. Maybe they make a deal, maybe they don’t.»

Islamabad host peace talks between Iran and the U.S. on Saturday. (Farooq Naeem / AFP via Getty Images)
For more than a month, the pope limited his remarks to muted appeals for peace, but in his Easter blessing last Sunday, he urged «those with weapons lay them down. Let those who have the power to unleash wars choose peace.»
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Leo also invoked what he said were the final words that Pope Francis issued to the world from the same balcony one year ago, during which the late pontiff warned of a «globalization of indifference.»
«What a great thirst for death, for killing we witness each day in the many conflicts raging in different parts of the world,» Leo said, quoting Francis.
Fox News’ Jasmine Baehr and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
pope leo xiv, peacekeeping, war with iran, iran, world, donald trump, vatican
INTERNACIONAL
Spanberger’s ICE rollback to blame for toddler killing, Virginia ‘hotbed’ of illegal immigrant crime: DHS

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FIRST ON FOX: The Department of Homeland Security blasted Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger after a red county’s cooperation with the agency led to swift justice for an illegal immigrant accused of killing a child.
DHS accused Spanberger of creating a «hotbed» for illegal immigrant violence with her day one order rescinding former Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s 287(g) agreement, which cut cooperative ties between ICE and Virginia State Police, fish and game wardens and state corrections officials, after the latest gruesome incident.
Mexican national Raul Genesis Ortiz Moran is accused of sexually assaulting a toddler in rural Louisa County, halfway between Richmond and Charlottesville.
«This horrific tragedy was completely avoidable because this illegal alien should have never been in our country. Governor Spanberger’s sanctuary policies have made Virginia a hotbed for illegal alien crime,» Assistant DHS Secretary Lauren Bis exclusively told Fox News Digital.
DEM GOVERNOR IN THE HOT SEAT AFTER TESTING LIMITS OF AUTHORITY WITH MAJOR MOVE AGAINST ICE
ICE agents make an arrest at left; Raul Genesis Ortiz Moran, right (Getty Images; DHS)
The girl’s mother rushed the injured 2-year-old to a sheriff’s office in neighboring Goochland County, where deputies attempted to resuscitate the child, who ultimately died.
Goochland and Louisa authorities cooperated directly with ICE, who quickly took Ortiz Moran into federal custody, Fox News Digital has learned.
«This monster sexually assaulted and murdered a 2-year-old girl in Virginia,» Bis said.
DHS UNLOADS ON ‘SANCTUARY CALAMITY’ VIRGINIA AFTER ILLEGAL ALIEN ACCUSED OF HEINOUS CRIME RELEASED: ‘SICKO’

Gov. Abigail Spanberger reads from a notebook in Richmond. (Mike Kropf/Getty Images; DHS)
«Thanks to the cooperation of our local law enforcement partners, this killer is off the streets and will face justice for his crimes.»
In response, a spokesperson for Spanberger said the Democrat «strongly believes violent criminals who are in the United States illegally should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and deported.
«Under Governor Spanberger’s leadership, the Virginia Department of Corrections continues the long-standing practice of notifying ICE when individuals born outside of the United States are in state custody. Virginia state law enforcement agencies also continue to participate in task forces and interagency cooperation with federal agencies.»
The spokesperson added Spanberger strives to protect Virginia’s children.
Ortiz Moran was arrested on charges of murder and aggravated sexual battery. The mother, who brought the girl to police from her home near Gum Spring, is reportedly the suspect’s girlfriend.
Louisa County Sheriff Donald Lowe called the incident an «unimaginable tragedy» in a statement, adding his deputies will «thoroughly investigate» the case.
Lowe told Richmond’s ABC affiliate he was afraid Ortiz Moran was «going to bolt,» so his office called ICE.
Goochland County Sheriff Steve Creasy told the outlet he is proud of the deputies who attempted to save the child and pledged to assist other authorities as needed.
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Abigail Spanberger takes the oath for governor of Virginia during inaugural activities at the Capitol in Richmond, Va., Jan. 17, 2026. (Stephanie Scarbrough/AP Photo)
DHS reiterated that Ortiz Moran’s case is only the latest in several violent or troubling incidents involving illegal immigrants in Virginia since Spanberger took office in January.
Officials noted ICE lodged a detainer for El Salvadoran national Juan Arevalo Mendez in June after he was arrested on rape and abduction charges in Fairfax County.
Another case involved Mexican illegal immigrant Samuel Flores de Dios in Fredericksburg, who was sentenced to 30 years in prison on CSAM charges involving the production of child sexual abuse material.
Other illegal immigrants either detained or subject to detainers by ICE have been charged with indecent exposure, abduction of a person with intent to defile, carjacking, assault, robbery and more.
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Most of the cases ICE listed occurred in Democrat-controlled jurisdictions like Fairfax County, Prince William County, Loudoun County and the independent city of Newport News.
DHS said the recent cases have increased pressure on Spanberger and Democratic commonwealth’s attorneys to cooperate with ICE as some Virginia jurisdictions also face congressional scrutiny.
illegal immigrants, migrant crime, abigail spanberger, homeland security, virginia, politics
INTERNACIONAL
El príncipe George cumple 13 años y ya se prepara para heredar el trono en Gran Bretaña

INTERNACIONAL
Nicaragua’s parliament plans to eliminate elections to codify President Ortega’s declaration

Sen. Ron Johnson: Election integrity should be a nonpartisan issue
Sen. Ron Johnson responds to New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill’s admission of 6,600 non-citizens improperly registered to vote due to a software error, with 400 actually voting. Johnson, from Wisconsin, stresses that election integrity, including voter ID and cleaning voter rolls, should be a non-partisan issue to restore public confidence in U.S. elections.
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Nicaragua’s lawmakers announced plans to abolish elections in the Central American country, following through on President Daniel Ortega’s declaration over the weekend that there would be no more elections, which enraged the international community.
The move was revealed on Tuesday by Nicaragua’s congress, which is firmly in the hands of Ortega and his wife, Rosario Murillo. Lawmakers said planned constitutional overhaul will ensure Nicaragua’s «peace, security and stability.»
With the announcement, lawmakers are making good on Ortega’s promise of no more elections, further closing off any potential path for the opposition to challenge the government he leads with Murillo, whom constitutional reforms elevated from vice president to «co-president.»
«There won’t be any more elections here for them to try to seize the government and seize power,» Ortega said on Sunday during a speech commemorating the 1979 Sandinista revolution, in which Ortega participated in the overthrow of the U.S.-backed dictatorship of Anastasio Somoza.
NICARAGUA’S ORTEGA SAYS COUNTRY WILL ‘NEVER AGAIN’ HOLD ELECTIONS, SHUTTING OUT OPPOSITION
Nicaragua’s President Daniel Ortega said officials in the Central American country will no longer hold elections. (REUTERS/Leonardo Fernandez Viloria)
«The days when parties backed by the Yankees (United States) and the Somocistas would return to power are over — never again,» he declared.
The declaration appeared to eliminate the possibility of a future electoral challenge as Ortega and Murillo continue consolidating control over the country’s political institutions.
Ortega and Murillo expanded their authority through sweeping constitutional changes that took effect in 2025. The reforms included extending the presidential term from five years to six and placing the legislative, judicial and electoral institutions under the authority of the presidency.
The pair now exercise control over nearly every branch of government, including the armed forces, police and judiciary.
Ortega, Nicaragua’s longest-serving leader, has remained in power until early 2028, although his statement on Sunday effectively canceled Nicaragua’s next elections, which had been scheduled for November 2027.
Critics say Ortega had already effectively eliminated meaningful electoral competition during elections in 2011, 2016 and 2021.
REPUBLICAN REP MARÍA ELVIRA SALAZAR DECLARES, ‘AFTER CUBA, NICARAGUA IS NEXT’

President Daniel Ortega’s promise to abolish elections prompted widespread condemnation from the international community. (Carlos Becerra/Bloomberg)
Many prominent opposition leaders have been imprisoned, forced into exile or stripped of their Nicaraguan citizenship, while opposition parties and independent civic organizations have lost their legal status.
A United Nations group of experts has accused the Ortega-Murillo government of systematically violating human rights as part of a campaign to eliminate criticism and preserve its hold on power. The experts said some alleged violations may amount to crimes against humanity.
The government launched a violent crackdown on anti-government protests in 2018. More than 300 people were killed during the unrest, according to international human rights groups.
Ortega’s effort to abolish elections prompted widespread condemnation from foreign governments, including the U.S.
«Daniel Ortega’s declaration that under his family’s dictatorship, Nicaragua will never again hold elections lays bare their true authoritarian nature. Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo have abandoned even the pretense of popular consent,» U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday.
«The Nicaraguan people have the right to choose their own leaders through democratic elections. The United States calls on the international community to join forces to demonstrate to the Murillo-Ortega dictatorship that it cannot expect to maintain business as usual with other nations when it is thwarting the basic tenets of our democratic hemisphere,» he added.

The move to abolish elections was announced by Nicaragua’s congress, which is firmly in the hands of President Daniel Ortega and his wife, Rosario Murillo. (INTI OCON/AFP)
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The Trump administration has described the Ortega-Murillo government as a dictatorship and imposed sanctions on members of the government and their allies. The State Department has also enacted visa restrictions targeting more than 2,350 Nicaraguan officials and their family members.
Volker Türk, the United Nations’ high commissioner for human rights, denounced Nicaragua’s legislative ambitions on Wednesday, saying that «people of all political viewpoints must be allowed to vote and run for office.»
«These latest developments further deepen the severe restrictions on fundamental freedoms, the dismantling of civic space, and the steady erosion of the rule of law,» Türk said in a statement.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
central america, latin america, elections, world, politics
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