March 29, 2026
Hegseth Says God Is On Our Side, Pope Says No He’s Not
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RSS Feed As the holiest week for Catholics and Christians around the world begins today on this Palm Sunday, the first American Pope had some powerful words for U.S. and Israeli leaders: “Cease Fire!” Pope Leo told his faithful that it’s absurd to claim that problems and disagreements can be resolved through war, while Hegseth prayed for “overwhelming violence” to our enemies. Meantime, significant preparations have been made to escalate the conflict with Iran, the U.S sending 2500 more troops to the region before President Trump makes his decision whether to begin a ground invasion.”
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00:00:10
Speaker 1: Hey, there, everybody. It is Sunday, March twenty ninth. It is not just any Sunday. It is Palm Sunday, the beginning of the holiest week of the year for Catholics and Christians around the world. And Pope Leo, addressing his faithful, told us and Israeli leaders to cease fire. Unfortunately, it looks like the opposite is taking place. And with that, everyone, welcome to this episode of amy. And TJ Babe I was wondering, Yes, this is Palm Sunday. Yes, this is a significant day for Christians around the world, But how impactful, how influential are religious leaders?
00:00:51
Speaker 2: Even the Pope himself at this point in the.
00:00:54
Speaker 3: World irrelevant, He's irrelevant to stopping war because you have three sides involved in this war, israelis Iranians, Americans, and all three think they got God on their sides. This isn't Why were they listen to him? They already have been spoken to by God on this mission. So no, his words were powerful, but they fly in the face of what we've been hearing for the past I guess a month almost of this war from all sides.
00:01:23
Speaker 2: You know what, it's so interesting, you say that, because that is exactly what the Pope addressed. He actually talked about. You know, and you just mentioned the three leaders.
00:01:33
Speaker 1: You've got a Christian, You've got Jewish, and you've got Muslim faiths. I mean, you've literally have the three powerhouses of religions who have fought historically for thousands and thousands of years for land, for power, and for the right to say that their religion is the right religion. But to your point, among the comments, and we'll get into what the Pope had to say specifically, but I want to read the one thing he said that just spoke to what you talked about. Some even go so far as to invoke the name of God to justify these choices of death. But God cannot be enlisted by darkness. Rather, he always comes to bring light, hope, and peace to humanity. I do find it so interesting that we all use and I say we meaning these countries and historically God.
00:02:20
Speaker 2: As a justification to kill and murder people.
00:02:24
Speaker 3: Oh, it's been happened since the beginning of time. There's a a joke one down, like the whole world was getting along until this magic baby was born in Jerusalem. That's a joke that somebody made, a comedian made. But the point there is it is valid that you go through history and people have fought, people have died, and people have killed, all in the name of religion and in the name of God. If you've got God on your side going into battle, you can't be defeated. And we got somebody is wrong because God ain't telling all of us to be bombing each other. So is there a right and wrong look that we're I get into that religious conversation because it's not our lane. But the fact remains that we are watching a war. Yes, we see bombs. It's over nuclear weapons, it's over Aroan not being able to menace the world. But based on some of the language we have been seeing, the argument is there is a religious war going on.
00:03:21
Speaker 1: I never even thought about it in those terms, but it always has blown my mind that you could have that thought. But also when you think about specifically, let's just talk about Christians on this Palm Sunday, the people wear the bracelets, what would Jesus do. Jesus was about forgiveness. Jesus was about turning the other cheeks. So it does always, it always flies in the face of the religion I was brought up with that we could use that then to justify a war, and so Pope Leo had a few strong words, and I actually thought this is Look, this is the first American pulp in the history of the Vatican, and so to have American pope speak on something that America is absolutely doing right now, I was hoping could be impactful.
00:04:05
Speaker 2: I don't know. You know, we see.
00:04:07
Speaker 1: Jade Vance going over he's a Catholic and meeting the pope. And we've certainly seen presidents, US presidents meet popes and give them, I guess some level of honor and respect, But do they truly listen to what religious leaders say anymore? The impact of religion even in this world, despite the fact that we might be fighting because of it or for it because we think it's on our side, it really the power or the impact on it is almost nothing at this point.
00:04:35
Speaker 4: The problem is to keep it separated? All right? You can't.
00:04:38
Speaker 3: It's fine, You're supposed to keep it separate. Right, Politicians are doing something, civilians are doing something related to war, and that's okay. The problem comes when you're launching that war and saying that Jesus, that God is on your side, that you have a divine mission. That is where pope and religious leaders will that in and say, WHOA, you're going to do your war thing, but don't talk about my guy saying he is endorsing what you're doing.
00:05:06
Speaker 1: And it's so interesting because he talked about people doing that, and I there was an article Pete hegseth.
00:05:12
Speaker 2: I don't know.
00:05:12
Speaker 1: I didn't know this he led, and this is one of his first I guess since the war began.
00:05:16
Speaker 2: But he leads a monthly worship service. Did you know that?
00:05:20
Speaker 1: Yeah?
00:05:21
Speaker 4: And people have all kinds of issues with him doing so.
00:05:23
Speaker 3: They have all kinds of issues with him turning almost the US military into a Christian military.
00:05:29
Speaker 2: You know what's crazy is I was not aware of that.
00:05:32
Speaker 1: So I learned something new reading about the pope and then reading about our secretary of war or our defense secretary. Yes, leading a monthly worship service. And this week he recited a prayer given by a chaplain, I guess, to the troops ahead of Venezuela.
00:05:49
Speaker 2: Venezuela.
00:05:50
Speaker 1: Yes, so you're familiar with this specific prayer he read aloud.
00:05:54
Speaker 3: Yeah, he read the prayer and it was a justification for what not just saying protect our troops, but saying, Lord, make sure they have specific targets for their violence. Please allow for overwhelming violence and action, clear and righteous thoughts for violence. He set this stuff, break the teeth of the ungodly. This is the prayer. Now he is hoping that the Good Lord will help us kill as forcefully and violently as possible.
00:06:29
Speaker 1: Yeah, he said overwhelming violence, yes to people who deserve no mercy, for justice to be delivered without remorse.
00:06:39
Speaker 2: And we ask these things in the name of Jesus Christ. And I think the Pope was specifically referencing this.
00:06:47
Speaker 4: It seems wild.
00:06:48
Speaker 3: And again people have their religious beliefs and you think the Lord is on your side, and you think the God and Jesus are telling you you got to wipe out what you think and what God thinks is evil in the world. Rome, How can you ever think you're in the wrong if you say, God, it's not just me making a decision. God is telling me I have to kill.
00:07:13
Speaker 2: Okay, it's as if.
00:07:15
Speaker 1: And it's so interesting this is all happening at the beginning of Holy Week, because this is a week that starts out with celebration, and it obviously on Good Friday, we have the crucification of Jesus Christ. It's a day of morning, it's a day of sorrow. But then three days later, on Easter Sunday, you have renewal, you have rebirth, and the lessons learned through the arc of this week you're.
00:07:39
Speaker 2: Supposed to then apply to your life.
00:07:41
Speaker 1: And so it was the perfect moment for the Pope to say something, But it seems like it isn't received in the way it's intended.
00:07:50
Speaker 3: Let every round find its mark, Like if I'm sitting in church.
00:07:54
Speaker 4: I went to church every Sunday.
00:07:55
Speaker 3: As a kid, and my preacher is up there praying that we are able to kill effectively. It's not something I am. Okay, I didn't come up with that. I don't think you did, or a lot of people did. But roads historically, when you I mean, there have been, I mean religious wars period, point blank.
00:08:13
Speaker 1: Well, it's interesting because as we've seen different wars play out over our lifetimes, we hear about extremist Islamic clerics calling for flatois is that like the religious war to yes, just annihilate your enemies. I don't remember hearing that from the United States before.
00:08:33
Speaker 3: Now it's a break from the norm. Most will tell you is that you don't. They stay away from to a great degree that type of language. And again, heg Seth has been up to this, He's changed, He's changed the importance of significance, the relevance of chaplains throughout the military. Chaplains, there's an argument, I think it's a lawsuit, even the over chaplains now being so focused on Christianity. Chaplains are supposed to be there to support you spiritually in whatever religion you are. That's what the chaplain's for. It's not supposed to be focused on one religion that's taking place. So what I'm saying, Hexa's words necessarily right now aren't new or should be a surprise, but they are jarring. It's jarring on Palm Sunday when you are praying that we can kill better, pray that we find our target better, not praying for our safety, not praying for troop safety, praying for a swift end, praying for overwhelming, praying for Irinians to come to their senses. You could even argue, you could I would be open to that, praying for death destruction. But you justify by saying God's on my side, and these are the enemies of God.
00:09:40
Speaker 2: You demonize the other side. They are the devil, They are inspired by evil. We are good. They are bad.
00:09:45
Speaker 3: Problem they're rolled as you start talking about that, you're going with a majority of this sunny Muslim country that.
00:09:54
Speaker 4: That's you've got enough problems.
00:09:57
Speaker 3: Rose when it comes to how we DEMONI we are now literally in some circles they are making that argument. We are Christians trying to take out Muslims.
00:10:03
Speaker 2: Wow.
00:10:04
Speaker 4: And the language, some of the language suggests.
00:10:06
Speaker 2: That, yes, okay.
00:10:09
Speaker 1: I want to make sure I read just a couple of the sentences from Poplio, because I really do. I wanted it to be some lightness, because there is so much darkness.
00:10:18
Speaker 2: And he speaks to that.
00:10:19
Speaker 1: He says, for two weeks, it's actually longer than two weeks, but for two weeks, the peoples of the Middle East have been suffering the atrocious violence of war. In the name of Christians in the Middle East and of all women and men of goodwill, I appeal to those responsible for this conflict cease fire.
00:10:35
Speaker 2: Today.
00:10:35
Speaker 1: Many of our brothers and sisters in the world are suffering because of violent conflicts caused by the absurd claim that problems and disagreements can be resolved through war when instead we must engage in unceasing dialogue for peace.
00:10:50
Speaker 2: I thought that was really well said.
00:10:53
Speaker 3: But is it spoken as a guy who is not a world leader, who has to deal with threats, who is deal with protecting people. I get the argument could be made period. Right aside from some of the language that heg Seth used argument, they could be they're coming from two different places, and a president of a nation and the leader of Catholics have two different aims and goals, and he I think world leaders can't just follow. Well, okay, what would Jesus do? I get that to a certain degree.
00:11:24
Speaker 2: That is a fair point.
00:11:25
Speaker 1: So, yes, we are not doing what Jesus would do, at least according to the Jesus we know from the Bible. In fact, we're doing quite the office. We're prepping for a potential ground invasion. We'll tell you when we come back the latest on that and where the American people stand on the possibility of this escalation in the war with Iran. Welcome back everyone to this Sunday Palm Sunday episode of Amy and t and the Pope just made some powerful remarks to the folks in there, and Saint Peter Square also then took a really incredible and inspirational homily to a Rome parish where he talked specifically about the violence happening right now in Iran and imploring the leaders of the United States and Israel and frankly even Iran to put down their arms. That is absolutely not going to happen. In fact, there is now talk of a US ground invasion. Reportedly, there has been preps going on for weeks now, and we've seen troop movement.
00:12:35
Speaker 3: And this is Washington Post reporting this morning. They're talking about they are a plant out, talking about the President now has a decision to make like plan that been put in front of him for a possible we have we've positioned ourselves for this move but rope, are we talking about dre I know it shouldn't just be about money and markets, but I shuddered to think what the world is going to look like on Monday, waking up thinking that US troops are about to invade around.
00:13:03
Speaker 1: I just got chills from head to toe because yes, markets, oil and loss of life, because this is now a very different situation if in fact this does happen, reportedly Washington Post saying maybe not a full scale invasion, but they called it a mixture of special ops and conventional infantry troops that have targeted sites. The straight of horror moves, obviously is of most concerned right now. Carolyn Levitt gave this quote to the Washington Post about a final decision that may have to be made now by the president. She said, it's the job of the Pentagon to make preparations in order to give the commander in chief maximum optionality. It does not mean the president has made a decision. What that says to me, though, is that he has one to make.
00:13:49
Speaker 3: What it says to me is I need to read more and get up on the word optionality. I didn't having used that one.
00:13:56
Speaker 2: I wasn't sure if I was pronouncing it right. Actually, but that is.
00:14:00
Speaker 4: I That's not one I'm used to.
00:14:01
Speaker 3: I'm so sorry I got so distracted in this conversation that I couldn't see past optionality.
00:14:07
Speaker 2: That's really funny.
00:14:08
Speaker 4: Okay, sorry, baby, what did you say? I have no idea what she.
00:14:10
Speaker 2: Just basically said.
00:14:11
Speaker 1: Yeah, the Pentagon has been prepping to basically give the president an option.
00:14:15
Speaker 2: To invade on the ground with boots on the ground.
00:14:18
Speaker 1: And yes, twenty five hundred marines have now been positioned around the Middle East. That was Saturday, so just yesterday they have gotten Look this, that's kind of ominous. Think about we invaded February, not invaded, we attacked, We struck Iran February twenty eighth. March twenty eighth. We've now positioned twenty five hundred additional marines on the ground in the Middle East, ready to go.
00:14:42
Speaker 3: And I think it was at least a week ago, and several times since President actually say we won, said this thing is over. He has said he's going to wrap this up soon. Say they have been obliterated.
00:14:54
Speaker 2: I don't want to make a deal yet they're begging for a deal all of this.
00:14:57
Speaker 3: And again, look, these are military strategists to know what they're doing and know how to use the threat of action possibly or is this going to be action brokes?
00:15:08
Speaker 4: I don't know, but thinking things. You remember the.
00:15:11
Speaker 3: Stocks shot up, oil price is shot down because he opened his mouth and said that things were wrapping up.
00:15:17
Speaker 4: How is this going to be ready?
00:15:19
Speaker 1: He said that Iran agreed to stop pursuing nuclear capability.
00:15:23
Speaker 4: Oh yeah, they agreed everything said that.
00:15:25
Speaker 1: Okay, here's what Iranian state media has said now that word has gotten out, Yes, that a ground invasion is possible and potentially likely.
00:15:31
Speaker 4: Bro Can I thought you there for a second.
00:15:33
Speaker 3: Isn't it crazy to how I would used to we would all used to be so dismissive of what Iranyan State TV said.
00:15:40
Speaker 1: Yep.
00:15:41
Speaker 3: Now I'm comparing what they say compared to what our people say.
00:15:46
Speaker 1: That's where we are right now, because if you the point being is as journalists, you could not trust what certain governments said because it was all propaganda. And we are now basically in that same spot with the United States. And that is a fair statement given what we have heard from our president and what has actually been true.
00:16:05
Speaker 3: You know what, that is actually fair And this is not a left right media thing that that is really actually true. Roads how many times something has gone not just confusing statements, but statements that you won't even talk about Mineapolis talk about the stuff cash Betel has put out that ends up being one hundred percent wrong.
00:16:22
Speaker 4: Right.
00:16:22
Speaker 3: They say things to us that fly in the face of the reality, to what our own eyes are telling us and to what's actually facts on a ground So when.
00:16:30
Speaker 2: You're flighting one on one, when you.
00:16:31
Speaker 3: Said Iranian state media, I would normally, ah, let's not even say it.
00:16:34
Speaker 4: Now I'm going hm hm, what did they have to say?
00:16:37
Speaker 2: Let's compare. Let's compare, because somewhere in between is the truth.
00:16:41
Speaker 1: Yes, Iranian state media, thank you for that guy's crazy.
00:16:44
Speaker 4: But you stop me. I heard it. I'm like, I wouldn't normally just dismiss.
00:16:48
Speaker 2: No, I'm like, hmmm, you're so right. So this is what they had to say.
00:16:53
Speaker 1: Iran's forces are quote waiting for American soldiers to enter on the ground so they can set them on fire. The next thing, Iran will not accept humiliation or surrender. We are certain we can punish Americans and make it regret ever considering an attack on Iran. So they are saying, bring it on now. Whether or not they can handle it is another thing. But they have already proven that they found our achilles heel, they found the world's achilles heel. They know their power, they figured it out, and now they got the straight of Hormuz and they say, yeah, we can cripple the world economy. We can do a lot of things here in Iran, isn't it crazy.
00:17:31
Speaker 4: We a waterway that most people have heard.
00:17:34
Speaker 2: Of generator kind of yeah, I guess it exists.
00:17:38
Speaker 3: Obviously we have to because we've been median you know, OPEC and oil producing countries and all this stuff. Oh, over time, you're familiar. But now folks are realizing, wait a minute, this is more important to me. This is the most important body of water to my life in the United States.
00:17:54
Speaker 1: Apparently, yes, because we can't do anything we can't afford oil.
00:17:58
Speaker 2: So this is also I wonder how much we fairly we knew.
00:18:03
Speaker 1: We discussed what the impact of religious leaders, even the Pope has on anything that world leaders do at this point.
00:18:09
Speaker 2: But I wonder how important.
00:18:11
Speaker 1: What the threshold is for US leaders on where the American people stand on this escalation in war going into Iran on the ground, boots on the ground. There is a new poll from AP and the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago about what the United States what American people feel about a ground invasion.
00:18:33
Speaker 2: I don't think these numbers will surprise you.
00:18:36
Speaker 1: Sixty two percent of people strongly oppose the use of ground troops. Oh, only twelve percent are in favor. Grobes, my god, the twelve percent.
00:18:46
Speaker 3: You know what that is one moment, one time Americans are like, wait a minute, you're putting one of our pe You don't have to have a family member, you don't have to have a friend.
00:18:56
Speaker 4: But rolled the idea of one of our troops being in.
00:18:58
Speaker 3: A foreign high still land is something we just that turns our stomachs in this country. And I don't know what the level of tolerance that's going to be world. We're in pain in this country, from our politics and our rhetoric, to what is happening at the airports, to what is happening in Minnesota, to now what is happening in war, what is happening at the grocery store, at the gas stations.
00:19:20
Speaker 4: We are in chaos at fields.
00:19:22
Speaker 1: Everyone has been impacted in some way by all of this. And thirteen, I believe that's the count. Thirteen American service members have already died. When you start talking about putting folks on the ground, we have to have a tolerance for losing many, many, many more of our men and women who are defending this country and are now being put into a position where they are invading another country.
00:19:49
Speaker 3: It's just we're told, it's just we're told this is a just war and this had to be done because we were in imminent danger. We were told that. Do we still believe that. I don't know, but tell me a nuclear bomb was close to being ready to fire the United States in a matter of days and we had to do this. Okay, but that's not what we were told. We were told that, then we told something else, and then we went back to that, then we told this other thing, then we added this other alternative objective. It just we nobody can feel good right now, robes about where we are and what we're doing. It just and so this new thing. And look the Pope. I appreciated his words this morning, and he used Bible scripture. I did find when I was talking about Isaiah one fifteen. Even though you make many prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are full of blood. That is the quote the Pope used today. Like, no, this God has already spoken on this. Now, you got folks on the other side, Hexeth and others pluck out Bible verses and they say.
00:20:46
Speaker 1: Just old Testament versus very different.
00:20:49
Speaker 3: And Hexaus said, the old and New are supporting what we're doing. He's actually said that before but the Pope said, no, what you're doing, this is no way that God is no way that Jesus endorsed King of peace.
00:21:00
Speaker 1: Right, God cannot be enlisted by darkness. How can war be seen as anything other than that?
00:21:07
Speaker 2: Truly?
00:21:08
Speaker 3: So the Pope today, how much this will, Yes, this will make a lot of headlines and get a lot of attention and start a lot of conversations, is going to change anything in the White House and the situation room.
00:21:20
Speaker 1: I guess what we all can do right now on this Palm Sunday, whoever you pray to, pray for peace and that is you know. At this point, I know that sounds empty, but if you believe and you have faith, it's worth a shot because that is what I think, that is what Jesus stood for. And on this Palm Sunday, I appreciate the Pope's words.
00:21:41
Speaker 2: They matter to me.
00:21:42
Speaker 1: Whether they are heard or followed by anyone else. We can't be responsible for we don't have control over, but we can control our own way of thinking and choosing peace. And listening to the Pope today brought me a little bit of that on this Palm Sunday.
00:21:57
Speaker 2: We hope it did for you.
00:21:58
Speaker 1: As well in all of this chaos, but we always appreciate you listening to us.
00:22:02
Speaker 2: I'm Aye Roeboch alongside t J. Holmes. We'll talk to you soon.
Speaker 1: Hey, there, everybody. It is Sunday, March twenty ninth. It is not just any Sunday. It is Palm Sunday, the beginning of the holiest week of the year for Catholics and Christians around the world. And Pope Leo, addressing his faithful, told us and Israeli leaders to cease fire. Unfortunately, it looks like the opposite is taking place. And with that, everyone, welcome to this episode of amy. And TJ Babe I was wondering, Yes, this is Palm Sunday. Yes, this is a significant day for Christians around the world, But how impactful, how influential are religious leaders?
00:00:51
Speaker 2: Even the Pope himself at this point in the.
00:00:54
Speaker 3: World irrelevant, He's irrelevant to stopping war because you have three sides involved in this war, israelis Iranians, Americans, and all three think they got God on their sides. This isn't Why were they listen to him? They already have been spoken to by God on this mission. So no, his words were powerful, but they fly in the face of what we've been hearing for the past I guess a month almost of this war from all sides.
00:01:23
Speaker 2: You know what, it's so interesting, you say that, because that is exactly what the Pope addressed. He actually talked about. You know, and you just mentioned the three leaders.
00:01:33
Speaker 1: You've got a Christian, You've got Jewish, and you've got Muslim faiths. I mean, you've literally have the three powerhouses of religions who have fought historically for thousands and thousands of years for land, for power, and for the right to say that their religion is the right religion. But to your point, among the comments, and we'll get into what the Pope had to say specifically, but I want to read the one thing he said that just spoke to what you talked about. Some even go so far as to invoke the name of God to justify these choices of death. But God cannot be enlisted by darkness. Rather, he always comes to bring light, hope, and peace to humanity. I do find it so interesting that we all use and I say we meaning these countries and historically God.
00:02:20
Speaker 2: As a justification to kill and murder people.
00:02:24
Speaker 3: Oh, it's been happened since the beginning of time. There's a a joke one down, like the whole world was getting along until this magic baby was born in Jerusalem. That's a joke that somebody made, a comedian made. But the point there is it is valid that you go through history and people have fought, people have died, and people have killed, all in the name of religion and in the name of God. If you've got God on your side going into battle, you can't be defeated. And we got somebody is wrong because God ain't telling all of us to be bombing each other. So is there a right and wrong look that we're I get into that religious conversation because it's not our lane. But the fact remains that we are watching a war. Yes, we see bombs. It's over nuclear weapons, it's over Aroan not being able to menace the world. But based on some of the language we have been seeing, the argument is there is a religious war going on.
00:03:21
Speaker 1: I never even thought about it in those terms, but it always has blown my mind that you could have that thought. But also when you think about specifically, let's just talk about Christians on this Palm Sunday, the people wear the bracelets, what would Jesus do. Jesus was about forgiveness. Jesus was about turning the other cheeks. So it does always, it always flies in the face of the religion I was brought up with that we could use that then to justify a war, and so Pope Leo had a few strong words, and I actually thought this is Look, this is the first American pulp in the history of the Vatican, and so to have American pope speak on something that America is absolutely doing right now, I was hoping could be impactful.
00:04:05
Speaker 2: I don't know. You know, we see.
00:04:07
Speaker 1: Jade Vance going over he's a Catholic and meeting the pope. And we've certainly seen presidents, US presidents meet popes and give them, I guess some level of honor and respect, But do they truly listen to what religious leaders say anymore? The impact of religion even in this world, despite the fact that we might be fighting because of it or for it because we think it's on our side, it really the power or the impact on it is almost nothing at this point.
00:04:35
Speaker 4: The problem is to keep it separated? All right? You can't.
00:04:38
Speaker 3: It's fine, You're supposed to keep it separate. Right, Politicians are doing something, civilians are doing something related to war, and that's okay. The problem comes when you're launching that war and saying that Jesus, that God is on your side, that you have a divine mission. That is where pope and religious leaders will that in and say, WHOA, you're going to do your war thing, but don't talk about my guy saying he is endorsing what you're doing.
00:05:06
Speaker 1: And it's so interesting because he talked about people doing that, and I there was an article Pete hegseth.
00:05:12
Speaker 2: I don't know.
00:05:12
Speaker 1: I didn't know this he led, and this is one of his first I guess since the war began.
00:05:16
Speaker 2: But he leads a monthly worship service. Did you know that?
00:05:20
Speaker 1: Yeah?
00:05:21
Speaker 4: And people have all kinds of issues with him doing so.
00:05:23
Speaker 3: They have all kinds of issues with him turning almost the US military into a Christian military.
00:05:29
Speaker 2: You know what's crazy is I was not aware of that.
00:05:32
Speaker 1: So I learned something new reading about the pope and then reading about our secretary of war or our defense secretary. Yes, leading a monthly worship service. And this week he recited a prayer given by a chaplain, I guess, to the troops ahead of Venezuela.
00:05:49
Speaker 2: Venezuela.
00:05:50
Speaker 1: Yes, so you're familiar with this specific prayer he read aloud.
00:05:54
Speaker 3: Yeah, he read the prayer and it was a justification for what not just saying protect our troops, but saying, Lord, make sure they have specific targets for their violence. Please allow for overwhelming violence and action, clear and righteous thoughts for violence. He set this stuff, break the teeth of the ungodly. This is the prayer. Now he is hoping that the Good Lord will help us kill as forcefully and violently as possible.
00:06:29
Speaker 1: Yeah, he said overwhelming violence, yes to people who deserve no mercy, for justice to be delivered without remorse.
00:06:39
Speaker 2: And we ask these things in the name of Jesus Christ. And I think the Pope was specifically referencing this.
00:06:47
Speaker 4: It seems wild.
00:06:48
Speaker 3: And again people have their religious beliefs and you think the Lord is on your side, and you think the God and Jesus are telling you you got to wipe out what you think and what God thinks is evil in the world. Rome, How can you ever think you're in the wrong if you say, God, it's not just me making a decision. God is telling me I have to kill.
00:07:13
Speaker 2: Okay, it's as if.
00:07:15
Speaker 1: And it's so interesting this is all happening at the beginning of Holy Week, because this is a week that starts out with celebration, and it obviously on Good Friday, we have the crucification of Jesus Christ. It's a day of morning, it's a day of sorrow. But then three days later, on Easter Sunday, you have renewal, you have rebirth, and the lessons learned through the arc of this week you're.
00:07:39
Speaker 2: Supposed to then apply to your life.
00:07:41
Speaker 1: And so it was the perfect moment for the Pope to say something, But it seems like it isn't received in the way it's intended.
00:07:50
Speaker 3: Let every round find its mark, Like if I'm sitting in church.
00:07:54
Speaker 4: I went to church every Sunday.
00:07:55
Speaker 3: As a kid, and my preacher is up there praying that we are able to kill effectively. It's not something I am. Okay, I didn't come up with that. I don't think you did, or a lot of people did. But roads historically, when you I mean, there have been, I mean religious wars period, point blank.
00:08:13
Speaker 1: Well, it's interesting because as we've seen different wars play out over our lifetimes, we hear about extremist Islamic clerics calling for flatois is that like the religious war to yes, just annihilate your enemies. I don't remember hearing that from the United States before.
00:08:33
Speaker 3: Now it's a break from the norm. Most will tell you is that you don't. They stay away from to a great degree that type of language. And again, heg Seth has been up to this, He's changed, He's changed the importance of significance, the relevance of chaplains throughout the military. Chaplains, there's an argument, I think it's a lawsuit, even the over chaplains now being so focused on Christianity. Chaplains are supposed to be there to support you spiritually in whatever religion you are. That's what the chaplain's for. It's not supposed to be focused on one religion that's taking place. So what I'm saying, Hexa's words necessarily right now aren't new or should be a surprise, but they are jarring. It's jarring on Palm Sunday when you are praying that we can kill better, pray that we find our target better, not praying for our safety, not praying for troop safety, praying for a swift end, praying for overwhelming, praying for Irinians to come to their senses. You could even argue, you could I would be open to that, praying for death destruction. But you justify by saying God's on my side, and these are the enemies of God.
00:09:40
Speaker 2: You demonize the other side. They are the devil, They are inspired by evil. We are good. They are bad.
00:09:45
Speaker 3: Problem they're rolled as you start talking about that, you're going with a majority of this sunny Muslim country that.
00:09:54
Speaker 4: That's you've got enough problems.
00:09:57
Speaker 3: Rose when it comes to how we DEMONI we are now literally in some circles they are making that argument. We are Christians trying to take out Muslims.
00:10:03
Speaker 2: Wow.
00:10:04
Speaker 4: And the language, some of the language suggests.
00:10:06
Speaker 2: That, yes, okay.
00:10:09
Speaker 1: I want to make sure I read just a couple of the sentences from Poplio, because I really do. I wanted it to be some lightness, because there is so much darkness.
00:10:18
Speaker 2: And he speaks to that.
00:10:19
Speaker 1: He says, for two weeks, it's actually longer than two weeks, but for two weeks, the peoples of the Middle East have been suffering the atrocious violence of war. In the name of Christians in the Middle East and of all women and men of goodwill, I appeal to those responsible for this conflict cease fire.
00:10:35
Speaker 2: Today.
00:10:35
Speaker 1: Many of our brothers and sisters in the world are suffering because of violent conflicts caused by the absurd claim that problems and disagreements can be resolved through war when instead we must engage in unceasing dialogue for peace.
00:10:50
Speaker 2: I thought that was really well said.
00:10:53
Speaker 3: But is it spoken as a guy who is not a world leader, who has to deal with threats, who is deal with protecting people. I get the argument could be made period. Right aside from some of the language that heg Seth used argument, they could be they're coming from two different places, and a president of a nation and the leader of Catholics have two different aims and goals, and he I think world leaders can't just follow. Well, okay, what would Jesus do? I get that to a certain degree.
00:11:24
Speaker 2: That is a fair point.
00:11:25
Speaker 1: So, yes, we are not doing what Jesus would do, at least according to the Jesus we know from the Bible. In fact, we're doing quite the office. We're prepping for a potential ground invasion. We'll tell you when we come back the latest on that and where the American people stand on the possibility of this escalation in the war with Iran. Welcome back everyone to this Sunday Palm Sunday episode of Amy and t and the Pope just made some powerful remarks to the folks in there, and Saint Peter Square also then took a really incredible and inspirational homily to a Rome parish where he talked specifically about the violence happening right now in Iran and imploring the leaders of the United States and Israel and frankly even Iran to put down their arms. That is absolutely not going to happen. In fact, there is now talk of a US ground invasion. Reportedly, there has been preps going on for weeks now, and we've seen troop movement.
00:12:35
Speaker 3: And this is Washington Post reporting this morning. They're talking about they are a plant out, talking about the President now has a decision to make like plan that been put in front of him for a possible we have we've positioned ourselves for this move but rope, are we talking about dre I know it shouldn't just be about money and markets, but I shuddered to think what the world is going to look like on Monday, waking up thinking that US troops are about to invade around.
00:13:03
Speaker 1: I just got chills from head to toe because yes, markets, oil and loss of life, because this is now a very different situation if in fact this does happen, reportedly Washington Post saying maybe not a full scale invasion, but they called it a mixture of special ops and conventional infantry troops that have targeted sites. The straight of horror moves, obviously is of most concerned right now. Carolyn Levitt gave this quote to the Washington Post about a final decision that may have to be made now by the president. She said, it's the job of the Pentagon to make preparations in order to give the commander in chief maximum optionality. It does not mean the president has made a decision. What that says to me, though, is that he has one to make.
00:13:49
Speaker 3: What it says to me is I need to read more and get up on the word optionality. I didn't having used that one.
00:13:56
Speaker 2: I wasn't sure if I was pronouncing it right. Actually, but that is.
00:14:00
Speaker 4: I That's not one I'm used to.
00:14:01
Speaker 3: I'm so sorry I got so distracted in this conversation that I couldn't see past optionality.
00:14:07
Speaker 2: That's really funny.
00:14:08
Speaker 4: Okay, sorry, baby, what did you say? I have no idea what she.
00:14:10
Speaker 2: Just basically said.
00:14:11
Speaker 1: Yeah, the Pentagon has been prepping to basically give the president an option.
00:14:15
Speaker 2: To invade on the ground with boots on the ground.
00:14:18
Speaker 1: And yes, twenty five hundred marines have now been positioned around the Middle East. That was Saturday, so just yesterday they have gotten Look this, that's kind of ominous. Think about we invaded February, not invaded, we attacked, We struck Iran February twenty eighth. March twenty eighth. We've now positioned twenty five hundred additional marines on the ground in the Middle East, ready to go.
00:14:42
Speaker 3: And I think it was at least a week ago, and several times since President actually say we won, said this thing is over. He has said he's going to wrap this up soon. Say they have been obliterated.
00:14:54
Speaker 2: I don't want to make a deal yet they're begging for a deal all of this.
00:14:57
Speaker 3: And again, look, these are military strategists to know what they're doing and know how to use the threat of action possibly or is this going to be action brokes?
00:15:08
Speaker 4: I don't know, but thinking things. You remember the.
00:15:11
Speaker 3: Stocks shot up, oil price is shot down because he opened his mouth and said that things were wrapping up.
00:15:17
Speaker 4: How is this going to be ready?
00:15:19
Speaker 1: He said that Iran agreed to stop pursuing nuclear capability.
00:15:23
Speaker 4: Oh yeah, they agreed everything said that.
00:15:25
Speaker 1: Okay, here's what Iranian state media has said now that word has gotten out, Yes, that a ground invasion is possible and potentially likely.
00:15:31
Speaker 4: Bro Can I thought you there for a second.
00:15:33
Speaker 3: Isn't it crazy to how I would used to we would all used to be so dismissive of what Iranyan State TV said.
00:15:40
Speaker 1: Yep.
00:15:41
Speaker 3: Now I'm comparing what they say compared to what our people say.
00:15:46
Speaker 1: That's where we are right now, because if you the point being is as journalists, you could not trust what certain governments said because it was all propaganda. And we are now basically in that same spot with the United States. And that is a fair statement given what we have heard from our president and what has actually been true.
00:16:05
Speaker 3: You know what, that is actually fair And this is not a left right media thing that that is really actually true. Roads how many times something has gone not just confusing statements, but statements that you won't even talk about Mineapolis talk about the stuff cash Betel has put out that ends up being one hundred percent wrong.
00:16:22
Speaker 4: Right.
00:16:22
Speaker 3: They say things to us that fly in the face of the reality, to what our own eyes are telling us and to what's actually facts on a ground So when.
00:16:30
Speaker 2: You're flighting one on one, when you.
00:16:31
Speaker 3: Said Iranian state media, I would normally, ah, let's not even say it.
00:16:34
Speaker 4: Now I'm going hm hm, what did they have to say?
00:16:37
Speaker 2: Let's compare. Let's compare, because somewhere in between is the truth.
00:16:41
Speaker 1: Yes, Iranian state media, thank you for that guy's crazy.
00:16:44
Speaker 4: But you stop me. I heard it. I'm like, I wouldn't normally just dismiss.
00:16:48
Speaker 2: No, I'm like, hmmm, you're so right. So this is what they had to say.
00:16:53
Speaker 1: Iran's forces are quote waiting for American soldiers to enter on the ground so they can set them on fire. The next thing, Iran will not accept humiliation or surrender. We are certain we can punish Americans and make it regret ever considering an attack on Iran. So they are saying, bring it on now. Whether or not they can handle it is another thing. But they have already proven that they found our achilles heel, they found the world's achilles heel. They know their power, they figured it out, and now they got the straight of Hormuz and they say, yeah, we can cripple the world economy. We can do a lot of things here in Iran, isn't it crazy.
00:17:31
Speaker 4: We a waterway that most people have heard.
00:17:34
Speaker 2: Of generator kind of yeah, I guess it exists.
00:17:38
Speaker 3: Obviously we have to because we've been median you know, OPEC and oil producing countries and all this stuff. Oh, over time, you're familiar. But now folks are realizing, wait a minute, this is more important to me. This is the most important body of water to my life in the United States.
00:17:54
Speaker 1: Apparently, yes, because we can't do anything we can't afford oil.
00:17:58
Speaker 2: So this is also I wonder how much we fairly we knew.
00:18:03
Speaker 1: We discussed what the impact of religious leaders, even the Pope has on anything that world leaders do at this point.
00:18:09
Speaker 2: But I wonder how important.
00:18:11
Speaker 1: What the threshold is for US leaders on where the American people stand on this escalation in war going into Iran on the ground, boots on the ground. There is a new poll from AP and the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago about what the United States what American people feel about a ground invasion.
00:18:33
Speaker 2: I don't think these numbers will surprise you.
00:18:36
Speaker 1: Sixty two percent of people strongly oppose the use of ground troops. Oh, only twelve percent are in favor. Grobes, my god, the twelve percent.
00:18:46
Speaker 3: You know what that is one moment, one time Americans are like, wait a minute, you're putting one of our pe You don't have to have a family member, you don't have to have a friend.
00:18:56
Speaker 4: But rolled the idea of one of our troops being in.
00:18:58
Speaker 3: A foreign high still land is something we just that turns our stomachs in this country. And I don't know what the level of tolerance that's going to be world. We're in pain in this country, from our politics and our rhetoric, to what is happening at the airports, to what is happening in Minnesota, to now what is happening in war, what is happening at the grocery store, at the gas stations.
00:19:20
Speaker 4: We are in chaos at fields.
00:19:22
Speaker 1: Everyone has been impacted in some way by all of this. And thirteen, I believe that's the count. Thirteen American service members have already died. When you start talking about putting folks on the ground, we have to have a tolerance for losing many, many, many more of our men and women who are defending this country and are now being put into a position where they are invading another country.
00:19:49
Speaker 3: It's just we're told, it's just we're told this is a just war and this had to be done because we were in imminent danger. We were told that. Do we still believe that. I don't know, but tell me a nuclear bomb was close to being ready to fire the United States in a matter of days and we had to do this. Okay, but that's not what we were told. We were told that, then we told something else, and then we went back to that, then we told this other thing, then we added this other alternative objective. It just we nobody can feel good right now, robes about where we are and what we're doing. It just and so this new thing. And look the Pope. I appreciated his words this morning, and he used Bible scripture. I did find when I was talking about Isaiah one fifteen. Even though you make many prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are full of blood. That is the quote the Pope used today. Like, no, this God has already spoken on this. Now, you got folks on the other side, Hexeth and others pluck out Bible verses and they say.
00:20:46
Speaker 1: Just old Testament versus very different.
00:20:49
Speaker 3: And Hexaus said, the old and New are supporting what we're doing. He's actually said that before but the Pope said, no, what you're doing, this is no way that God is no way that Jesus endorsed King of peace.
00:21:00
Speaker 1: Right, God cannot be enlisted by darkness. How can war be seen as anything other than that?
00:21:07
Speaker 2: Truly?
00:21:08
Speaker 3: So the Pope today, how much this will, Yes, this will make a lot of headlines and get a lot of attention and start a lot of conversations, is going to change anything in the White House and the situation room.
00:21:20
Speaker 1: I guess what we all can do right now on this Palm Sunday, whoever you pray to, pray for peace and that is you know. At this point, I know that sounds empty, but if you believe and you have faith, it's worth a shot because that is what I think, that is what Jesus stood for. And on this Palm Sunday, I appreciate the Pope's words.
00:21:41
Speaker 2: They matter to me.
00:21:42
Speaker 1: Whether they are heard or followed by anyone else. We can't be responsible for we don't have control over, but we can control our own way of thinking and choosing peace. And listening to the Pope today brought me a little bit of that on this Palm Sunday.
00:21:57
Speaker 2: We hope it did for you.
00:21:58
Speaker 1: As well in all of this chaos, but we always appreciate you listening to us.
00:22:02
Speaker 2: I'm Aye Roeboch alongside t J. Holmes. We'll talk to you soon.