America’s most senior Catholic military cleric has warned that Donald Trump’s Iran war is unjustified and suggested troops should avoid following orders. 

Archbishop Timothy Broglio, head of the Archdiocese for the Military Services and one of America’s most conservative bishops, called Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s invocations of Jesus Christ to justify the war ‘problematic.’  

Broglio said Trump’s strikes on Iran were not justified under Saint Augustine’s just war theory, in an interview set to air on CBS’s Face the Nation on Easter Sunday. 

The theory holds that war is only morally permissible when punishing wrongdoing or defending the innocent, and always with the ultimate aim of restoring peace rather than for revenge or conquest.

The bishop said the administration’s justification rested on the threat of nuclear weapons – which Iran does not possess. 

‘While there was a threat with nuclear arms, it’s compensating for a threat before the threat is actually realized,’ Broglio said.

He urged troops to minimize harm in carrying out their orders, while acknowledging that lower ranks would not be in a position to disobey commands unless they ‘were clearly immoral.’ 

‘The question might be would generals or admirals have space to perhaps say, “Can we look at this a different way,” but having spoken to some of them, they are also in the same dilemma,’ Broglio said. ‘So my counsel would be to do as little harm as you can and to try and preserve innocent lives.’

Broglio said Trump’s strikes on Iran were not justified under Saint Augustine’s just war theory, in an interview set to air on CBS’s Face the Nation on Easter Sunday

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins arrive before President Donald Trump speaks about the Iran war from the Cross Hall of the White House on Wednesday, April 1

Under US military rules, troops may seek non-combat duty or discharge on grounds of conscientious objection, but must continue to follow orders until any application is approved. 

Broglio expressed profound skepticism about Hegseth’s frequent invocations of Jesus Christ, including prayers and Bible verses from the Pentagon podium.

‘It’s a little bit problematic in the sense that, the Lord Jesus certainly brought a message of peace and also, I think, war is always a last resort,’ Broglio said.

‘Now they may have information that led them to think war was the only choice, I’m not making a judgement about that because I really don’t know, I do think that it’s hard to cast this war as something that would be sponsored by the Lord.’

Broglio noted the view was shared by Pope Leo, who on Palm Sunday quoted the Book of Isaiah in a pointed rebuke of those who wage war. 

‘God does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them,’ Leo said, before quoting Isaiah: ‘Even though you make many prayers, I will not listen: your hands are full of blood.’ 

Broglio’s broadside will be seen as a serious embarrassment for the Trump administration. 

Appointed by Pope Benedict XVI, he is a staunch conservative who has been a rock for conservatives for years.

Donald Trump arrives to speak at a televised address on the conflict in the Middle East from the Cross Hall of the White House in Washington, DC on April 1

Pete Hegseth visiting US troops fighting in the Iran war 

Pope Leo XIV holds a cross as he leads the Good Friday Passion of the Lord service in Saint Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, April 3

He oversees more than 200 Catholic chaplains serving across the US military.  

Hegseth, a born-again evangelical Christian, has been sharply criticized for the religious tenor of his rhetoric surrounding the Iran war.

He has prayed for ‘overwhelming violence’ against enemies and framed operations in Biblical language, citing Psalm 144: ‘Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle.’  

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Monday pushed back on Leo’s assertion that God does not hear the prayers of those who wage war. 

‘Our nation was a nation founded 250 years ago almost on Judeo-Christian values,’ Leavitt said.

‘I don’t think there is anything wrong with our military leaders or with the president calling on the American people to pray for our service members overseas.’ 

In response to Broglio’s criticism, the White House on Friday hailed Trump’s ‘courageous’ war against Iran.

Spokeswoman Anna Kelly told the Daily Mail: ‘There is nothing more humanitarian than eliminating the short- and long-term threats posed by the terrorist Iranian regime, which has targeted civilians throughout the region and long committed egregious human rights abuses against their own people.

‘Past Presidents have talked about taking on the terrorist regime for 47 years, but this President’s courageous action to finally dismantle their ballistic missile capacity, navy, ability to arm proxies, and dreams of possessing a nuclear weapon exemplifies peace through strength and will save countless lives.’