Bishop Earl Boyea of Lansing today added his episcopal voice to those of Pope Leo XIV and Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, in inviting all people of goodwill to join the Holy Father’s prayer vigil for peace on Saturday, April 11, amid the threat of increased US-Israeli military action in Iran. Bishop Boyea said:
“In communion with so many of my brother bishops across the United States, I strongly remind our political leadership that the threat of destroying a whole civilization and the intentional targeting of civilian infrastructure cannot be morally justified. While military action can sometimes be justified, it must always be conducted justly and in accordance with the moral law — particularly the ethical precepts articulated in the Church’s just war theory.
“I also urge my fellow Catholics — and all people of goodwill — to embrace our Holy Father’s call for a prayer vigil for peace this Saturday, on the eve of Divine Mercy Sunday. During this Eastertide, let us turn ever more earnestly to our Resurrected Lord, the Prince of Peace, in pursuit of a just settlement to all global conflicts.”
Earlier today, President Donald Trump promised on social media the annihilation of the “whole civilization” of Iran if the country fails to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. In response, Pope Leo XIV labelled such threats as morally unacceptable.
“Attacks on civilian infrastructure are not only against international law, but they are also a sign of the hatred, division, and destruction that human beings are capable of—and something we must all work to overcome in the pursuit of peace,” said the Holy Father to the Vatican media corps on April 7.
“People want peace. I would invite citizens of all the countries involved to speak with their political leaders, authorities, and congressmen, and to urge them to work for peace.”
Meanwhile, Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, also called upon the U.S. administration to exercise restraint in its application of military power in Iran.
“I call on President Trump to step back from the precipice of war and negotiate a just settlement for the sake of peace before more lives are lost,” said Archbishop Coakley in a statement on April 7.
“Pope Leo has invited everyone to join him in a prayer vigil for peace on Saturday, April 11. I make a special plea to my brother bishops, the priests, the laity, and all people yearning for true peace to join the Holy Father’s vigil for peace—whether virtually, in parishes, in chapels, or before the Lord present in the quiet of their hearts—as we pray for peace in our world."
“Let us entrust to the Lord ‘all hearts that suffer and await the true peace that only he can give. Let us entrust ourselves to him and open our hearts to him! He is the only one who makes all things new (cf. Rev 21:5).’”
• For more information on the Catholic Church’s teaching on just war theory go to: https://www.milarch.org/catholic-teaching-on-peace/