Pope Leo says 'delusion of omnipotence' is fueling U.S.-Israeli war in Iran

NPR reports that Pope Leo has escalated his criticism of the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran, characterizing it as driven by a 'delusion of omnipotence,' after initially offering only muted appeals for peace in the conflict's opening weeks. His more pointed criticism began on Palm Sunday, marking a shift in the Vatican's public posture. The reporting is attributed to the Associated Press and published by NPR (a major national outlet), lending credibility to the sourcing. Independent coverage from Reuters, Guardian, AP News, NBC, and Politico corroborates that Pope Leo has issued multiple recent statements condemning the war, rejecting claims of divine sanction, and calling it the 'madness of war'—though the specific 'delusion of omnipotence' framing appears unique to this NPR/AP version. The article's description is sparse on detail; it provides no direct quotes, context about what prompted the escalation, or substantive analysis of the Pope's shift in tone, limiting depth. Watch for further papal statements as U.S.-Iran ceasefire talks continue in Pakistan, and monitor whether the Pope's rebukes influence international diplomatic pressure or religious communities' positions on the conflict.