Hegseth Dismisses Pope's Criticism of US Iran Campaign

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth dismissed Pope Leo XIV's criticisms of the U.S. military campaign in Iran during a Pentagon press briefing on Friday, stating that the pontiff could express his views while the military pursued its objectives under presidential orders.

Hegseth, responding to a reporter's question about the pope's recent denunciations of the war, said, "The pope's gonna do his thing, that's fine." He emphasized the armed forces' clarity on their mission and authority, noting that legal advisors had reviewed operations to ensure compliance with the Constitution and U.S. laws. The briefing focused on Operation Epic Fury, the ongoing U.S.-led effort against Iran, which Hegseth described as precisely targeted and more efficient than previous conflicts in Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

Pope Leo, the first American-born pontiff, has repeatedly condemned the war, arguing it fails to meet the Catholic Church's just war doctrine, which limits conflicts to self-defense as a last resort after exhausting peaceful options. On Thursday, during a flight back to the Vatican from a trip to Africa, Leo told reporters that "many innocent people have died" and called on all...