Pete Hegseth dismisses Pope Leo XIV’s war criticism, defends US military action on Iran

WASHINGTON, DC: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday, April 24, defended ongoing military operations against Iran, dismissing criticism from Pope Leo XIV, who has called for peace and opposed the conflict.

“We know what our mission is, we know what authority we have,” he added, underscoring that operations are being carried out under presidential orders and legal review. 

His remarks came amid broader international reactions, including warnings from European and NATO-linked figures about the limits of military intervention. 

Pete Hegseth defends military action and dismisses pope's criticism

Speaking at a Pentagon briefing, Pete Hegseth responded to criticism from Pope Leo XIV, who recently denounced the war and urged peaceful solutions.

“The pope’s gonna do his thing, that’s fine,” Hegseth told reporters. “We know what our mission is, we know what authority we have. We’re very clear about that, we follow that, the orders of the president."

“We’ve got lawyers all over the place looking at what we’re doing and why we’re doing it and giving us every authority necessary under the Constitution and under our laws to execute across the spectrum,” he added.

Hegseth also addressed operational developments, stating that 34 Iranian ships had been turned around since the enforcement of a US naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz.

He noted that some vessels initially breached the blockade but said subsequent enforcement actions demonstrated its seriousness. 

“So as far as breaching the blockade, it’s been a pretty consistent, a number of ships at the beginning,” he said, referencing an incident where US forces disabled a vessel. “I think that sent a very clear sign that this is not a fake blockade. This is a real full blockade.”

On reports suggesting a prolonged timeline to clear naval mines in the region, Hegseth declined to provide specifics, saying, “We would not speculate on a timeline,” while maintaining confidence in the military’s capabilities.

Pope and European officials warn against military intervention

 Pope Leo XIV on Thursday reiterated his opposition to the conflict, stating: “As a pastor, I cannot be in favor of war.”

He added, “I would like to encourage all to make efforts to look for answers that come from a culture of peace and not from a place of hate and division.” 

The pope also emphasized that “God does not bless any conflict,” while acknowledging concerns over Iran’s internal actions, including the killing of protesters.

His position has been echoed by European leaders, including Federica Mogherini, a former senior European Union official with close ties to NATO policymaking circles. Speaking to CNN, she questioned the effectiveness of military solutions. 

“We have never seen a military intervention actually bringing a long-lasting resolution to any kind of crisis,” Mogherini said. “I think the words of the pope that we just listened to are not only morally valuable, but also wise from a political point of view.”