The Iran war is quickly becoming a holy war, but not just along the obvious Christian-Muslim fault line. Rifts have formed between the U.S.-Israel and the Catholic Church.

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• The war began on February 28, and Israel’s state of emergency closures included all holy sites in Jerusalem.
• Israeli defenses have repeatedly detected potential incoming missiles and drones, with air raid sirens in the city being activated hundreds of times since the start of the war. At least one strike has hit the city (March 1), and debris from an interception has fallen as well (March 16).
• Many feared that closing the al-Aqsa mosque during Ramadan would lead to Islamic violence, but it has not.

On Sunday, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa tried to visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for Palm Sunday but was stopped by Israeli police. The Vatican called it “a manifestly unreasonable and grossly disproportionate measure.”

• The Trump administration leaned on Israel after the backlash, and Israel has reportedly agreed to a deal with Christian leaders to allow them to pray in the sacred sites over their Easter holiday.

Meanwhile, Pope Leo’s Sunday messages have become increasingly direct in their condemnation of President Donald Trump. This weekend, he focused on Isaiah 1:15: “And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.”

• “God does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war,” he said. The remark came after U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth encouraged Americans to pray for victory.

But the pope’s remark is not biblical. For a more accurate picture of what the Bible says about war, read our article “Will America Win?” in our latest Trumpet issue. Isaiah 1:15 is not a blanket condemnation of all war. As the American Spectator noted, “If taken at face value, Pope Leo’s logic would seem to condemn not only the U.S.–Israeli campaign in Iran but even the Allied response to Nazi aggression in World War ii.” God answered prayers many times during that war.

• Nevertheless, Axios noted, “Pope Leo xiv is emerging as a cautious voice of moral opposition to President Trump’s policies, challenging the president’s approach to world affairs without calling him out by name.”

There is a clear division between the Catholic Church and parts of the American conservative movement.

• The Insurrection Barbie social media account posted an article arguing that this movement is experiencing “the replacement of evangelical Protestant political theology with a Catholic integralist or ethnonationalist framework that views Jews, Israel and Protestants not as covenant partners but as adversaries of Christian civilization.”
• Sen. Ted Cruz, who is an evangelical Protestant, shared the post, calling it “the best and most comprehensive explanation of what we’re fighting,” prompting Catholic journalists to hit back.

The Trumpet and its predecessor, the Plain Truth under Herbert W. Armstrong, have forecast for about 75 years that a Catholic-led European power will ultimately deal with the Iranian regime. A pope who opposes war with Iran, if not all war, would appear to move events in the opposite direction.

• It indicates big changes are coming to the Catholic Church, probably including a new pope.

But the Catholic opposition to the U.S. and Israel fighting Iran exposes a crucial truth. Pope Pius xii enabled Adolf Hitler’s rise and sided with the Nazis in World War ii. The Catholic Church did not recognize Israel until 1993.

Bible prophecy reveals that the Catholic Church, which has repeatedly led Europe to wage war and “fill their hands with blood” for centuries, will do so again. It will soon begin quoting Scripture to justify war on Iran—when the Vatican is in control.

• But the current division between the leader of the Vatican and the leaders of the United States and Israel is an important reminder that the Catholic Church opposes American power and the very existence of a Jewish state in the Middle East.

This holy day season could provide many opportunities for conflict. Many American Catholics are sincere in their patriotism and don’t understand the full heritage of the church they belong to. But once it deals with Iran, Catholic-led Europe will turn on America, Britain and the Jews. And that conflict will begin in Jerusalem. For more, read our article “Pope Francis’s Real Legacy.”

This Is Not Europe’s Crusade—Yet

Not only are European countries declining to support the United States and Israel in their war on Iran, but they are also placing obstacles in the way.

• Spain: After previously refusing U.S. access to its air bases, yesterday Spain banned American planes involved in the war from its airspace entirely. Earlier this month, President Trump criticized Spain for being uncooperative and threatened to cut off all trade with the nation.
• Italy: A few days ago, Italy refused to allow several U.S. aircraft involved in the war to land at the Sigonella base, according to Corriere della Sera. The paper cited sources close to the Italian Defense Ministry saying that the aircraft were already well into their flights before the U.S. military requested base access.
• France: “The country of France wouldn’t let planes headed to Israel, loaded up with military supplies, fly over French territory,” President Trump wrote on social media today: “France has been very unhelpful with respect to the ‘Butcher of Iran,’ who has been successfully eliminated! The U.S.A. will remember!!!”
• Germany: Last week the German president called the attack on Iran a violation of international law. Germany was one of the first and most adamant countries to reject the U.S. request for help to keep the Strait of Hormuz open.
• Britain: Similar to the Europeans, the British initially denied U.S. access to air bases, then partially relented. It responded to an Iranian proxy attack on its own base in Cyprus with an agonizingly slow dispatch of a single frigate. Its other contribution to the U.S. has basically been a few military planners giving advice on how to handle Iran’s maritime terrorism in the strait.

President Trump addressed the United Kingdom and “all of those countries” that have “refused to get involved in the decapitation of Iran” and are now struggling for energy supplies, including jet fuel, because of Iranian attacks in the Strait of Hormuz:

I have a suggestion for you: Number 1, buy from the U.S., we have plenty, and Number 2, build up some delayed courage, go to the strait, and just take it. You’ll have to start learning how to fight for yourself, the U.S.A. won’t be there to help you anymore, just like you weren’t there for us.

Europe was outraged when Iran’s radical regime punctuated years of oppression and terrorism by killing tens of thousands of its own people in January. It is greatly threatened by Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz. And it is greatly concerned about Iran’s dangerous pursuit of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles and its ambitions for Jerusalem.

“The Islamic people have fought the Catholic Crusades for about 1,500 years over control of Jerusalem. Bible prophecy says one final crusade is about to erupt.”
—Gerald Flurry, Trumpet editor in chief, April 2011

For now, however, Europe’s opposition to the U.S. is greater than its concerns over Iran. Bible prophecy shows that Europe will unleash a true crusade on radical Islam as it has in the past. But this prophesied war will not be headed by or include the U.S. Why? Because it will also be a target of the same crusade.

German, Syrian Leaders Plan Partnership

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa visited Berlin yesterday and met German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to discuss rebuilding Syria. Though it is controversial to host a mildly reformed Islamist jihadist, there are compelling reasons why this is happening, the greatest of which is Bible prophecy.

• Sharaa was an officially designated terrorist in both the United Nations Security Council and the United States until November 6 and 7 last year, less than a week before President Donald Trump hosted him at the White House.

Germany is motivated to work with Sharaa to open up a pathway for Syrians to return to their home country. Merz expressed support for the idea that 80 percent of the roughly 1.3 million Syrian refugees should return home within the next three years, and Sharaa said he also wants those refugees to return to Syria. The two nations have agreed to create a joint task force to facilitate this re-migration.

• This not only helps ease the strain of immigration on Germany, it also gives it a partner in the Middle East.

Syria also gains manpower and education to rebuild: 80 percent of the 1.3 million Syrians in Germany equals roughly 4 percent of Syria’s current population.

• Syria also needs money, and Germany has it. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said yesterday that Germany could play a “strong role” in Syria’s reconstruction economically. In 2025, Germany pledged $325 million in aid to Syria.
• German Economics Minister Katherina Reiche pointed out business opportunities for German companies: Siemens is preparing to build gas turbines to supply Syria with energy.
• Syria also wants to get away from Iran’s sphere of influence, and Germany wants to bring Syria into its own.

This plan would give Germany significant leverage over Syria. Merz even subtly hinted at that by saying that “many joint projects in the future will depend on our finding a state governed by the rule of law.”

• This statement, in part, indicates that Syria’s government must align with Germany’s interests in order to continue receiving benefits and potentially open up new opportunities for cooperation.

Gerald Flurry wrote in August 2024, before Assad’s regime fell: “Bible prophecy indicates that through Syria, Germany is about to get control of the Middle East.” He based that statement on a prophecy in Psalm 83, which mentions an end-time alliance between Germany and Syria, along with the Gulf states and Turkey.

Syrian immigrants returning to their homeland after spending years in Germany creates fertile ground for Syria to become a German ally in the Middle East.

IN OTHER NEWS

Could Lebanon arrest Iran’s ambassador? Iran said on Monday its ambassador to Lebanon, Mohammed Reza Shibani, was defying Beirut’s demand to leave. The Lebanese government has the right to arrest Shibani, and although this seems unlikely, it shows the depth of division between Iran and its former proxy state. The Bible prophesied that Iran would lose power over Lebanon. Iran’s last-ditch efforts to hold onto its Lebanese influence will fail.

EU approves defense modernization program: On Sunday, the European Commission approved the $1.7 billion European Defense Industry Program for 2026 and 2027 to boost production capacity for munitions and other assets and to develop anti-drone weaponry. Roughly $300 million will be used to modernize Ukraine’s defense abilities, and $115 million will be used to support European defense start-ups. Europe’s rapid militarization continues.

Paris terrorist attack thwarted: On Saturday, French police foiled a planned terrorist bombing on a Bank of America office in Paris. One suspect was arrested on Saturday and two more on Sunday. Iran is suspected of having been involved in the plan. As Europeans continue to be threatened by terror attacks, expect them to react more and more powerfully against their source: Iran.

African proxy war escalates: Somalia’s army conquered part of the largest city in the South West state yesterday, Baidoa, two weeks after the state severed ties with the national government. The national forces are stronger, but they are also fighting a war with al-Shabaab terrorists, and South West forces possess geographical advantages. Attacking Baidoa, which hosts several international peacekeeping deployments and humanitarian agencies, could also hurt Somalia’s relations with international supporters. Turkey and Egypt support Somali forces, and Ethiopia supports South West state. Bible prophecy indicates we can expect conflicts in the Red Sea region to escalate further.

U.S. lets Russia bypass blockade: The Trump administration declined to order the interception of a Russian tanker delivering oil to Cuba on Sunday, despite largely blockading the island. Up until now, the U.S. has disallowed tankers from reaching the island and threatened nations that sent oil to the Communist country. However, even though two cutters in the region could have attempted to stop the Russian tanker, no order was given. Though the reason behind this is unknown, it’s speculated it was done to avoid a standoff with Russia.

French Canada outraged and rampant: Air Canada ceo Michael Rousseau’s retirement was announced yesterday after uproar in Quebec. The main reason? His condolence message following the tragic and deadly Air Canada collision at LaGuardia Airport last week was written in English. Those who thought he should have also posted it in French included Prime Minister Mark Carney, who said Rousseau showed “a lack of judgment” and “compassion.” The French-English rift in Canada is more than just a curiosity: It connects deeply to Canada’s most important history and its perilous future.

Most American Jews oppose Iran war: A poll published yesterday by the Jewish Electorate Institute found that 55 percent of American Jew respondents oppose the U.S. war against Iran. Only 32 percent said they approved, 13 percent said they were undecided, and 41 percent agreed that “we should not go to war without clear provocation.” Our article “Israel’s Last Lion” states in the quip, “In a world overrun by appeasers, one man keeps warning—and the world keeps hating him for it.” Many Jews are against Israel’s Churchillian leader.