Nadene Goldfoot
Trump is now confronting the Pope, the leader over Catholics, over his comment of "Blessed are the Peacemakers. " This comes from Jesus who said "Blessed are the peacemakers" during his Sermon on the Mount, recorded in the Bible at Matthew 5:9. Part of the Beatitudes, the verse continues, "for they will be called children of God" (NIV) or "...sons of God" (KJV), promising spiritual recognition to those who actively seek reconciliation.
Of course, Pope Leo shows that Trump is no peacemaker and certainly not a son of G-d by not being a peacemaker.
We have to give Trump credit, though. He did give his adversaries chances to change their minds; too many chances if you ask most generals. He couldn't follow through with his big threats of destruction. He hasn't followed through on any of his endeavors involving his threats. He always gives in. I wonder if Pope Leo notices that.
- Theological Perspective: Jewish tradition views David as a prophet who composed psalms through divine inspiration, some describing events that happened long after his life.
Trump doesn't know, but the idea of peace was also mentioned over 1,000 years before in the "Old Testament" "The Old Testament (Jewish Tanakh) also highlights that false prophets would cry "peace" when there was no actual peace, warns against trusting in hollow security, and emphasizes that true peace is found only in obedience to God's law (Jeremiah 6:14, Psalm 119:165). Israelis use the word "Shalom" every day, and this word means "Peace."
Shalom (שָׁלוֹם) is used for Hello, Goodbye and Peace. A person is greeting with the word peace showing there is to be peace between them, and not meeting as opponents.
In the Old Testament, peace—primarily the Hebrew word shalom—signifies comprehensive completeness, wholeness, and safety rather than just the absence of conflict. It is portrayed as a gift from God (Leviticus 26:6), a result of righteousness and obedience (Isaiah 26:3, Psalm 119:165), and a future state of harmony for creation (Isaiah 11:6-9).
The Catholic church started off under the Romans with Emperor Constantine. The Roman Emperor Constantine I convened the First Council of Nicaea in 325 CE to address the nature of Jesus (Arianism) and unify Christian doctrine, including the timing of Easter. As the first ecumenical council, it aimed to resolve divisions within the church regarding Christ's divinity. This is when they first started attacking Jews they saw as competitors to their new religion they were marketing. The fact is that it was not uncommon to see Romans converting to Judaism in Rome. It was a religion of family, not fighting, and they liked it.
Accordingly, though the traditional Jewish ideal was not pacifist, it was always conceded that war can in some cases by justified. In modern times, Jews, by virtue of their religious tradition as well as of their unique international position, have played an important part in international peace-movement.
According to Catholic tradition, St. Peter is recognized as the first Pope, establishing the papacy in Rome around 30–64 AD. While Peter is the first in the unbroken line of Bishops of Rome, the formal, exclusive title "Pope" was not used until later centuries, with Marcellinus (d. 304) being one of the first associated with the title.
The most harmful Popes towards the Jewish people were:
- Pope Paul IV (1555–1559): Widely regarded as one of the most virulently antisemitic popes, Paul IV issued the papal bull Cum nimis absurdum in 1555, which created the Roman Ghetto, forced Jews to wear distinctive yellow hats, restricted their economic activity, and prohibited them from owning property.
- Pope Pius XII (1939–1958): Known for his controversial "silence" during the Holocaust, critics often describe him as a poor defender of Jews, with some calling him "Hitler's pope" for not publicly condemning the Nazi regime. But only one pope ever bore actual witness to a genocide and did absolutely nothing about it, and that was Eugenio Pacelli, Pope Pius XII, who reigned throughout all six years of the Second World War and the Holocaust.
- However, this view is heavily debated, as defenders point to his role in facilitating the rescue of thousands of Jews behind the scenes. Notice that this was the period of the worst for Jews starting in Germany. 1939 was the tell-tale of the change in Germans towards Jews. So I understand that he kept his mouth shut and didn't criticize the Nazis, and why? he would have been killed for it by the Nazis. Trump, you should realize that you are President of a country who allows people to criticize their leader without fear.Robert Francis Prevost b: 9/14/1955, age 71
- Today's Pope Leo XIV (born Robert Francis Prevost on September 14, 1955) is the 267th leader of the Roman Catholic Church, elected on May 8, 2025. As the first U.S.-born and first Augustinian pope, he is a former missionary to Peru who previously served as Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, focusing on bridging divides and continuing the reforms of his predecessor.
- Resource:
- https://www.lifeway.com/en/articles/sermon-blessed-peacemakers-sons-god-matthew-5:9.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Council_of_Nicaea#:~:text=The%20First%20Council%20of%20Nicaea,have%20presided%20over%20its%20deliberations.
- https://rsc.byu.edu/vol-12-no-1-2011/jerusalem-conference-first-council-christian-church#:~:text=The%20most%20famous%20council%20of,local%20leader%20from%20Alexandria%2C%20Egypt.
- https://www.historyworld.net/history/Papacy/543?section=1st8thCentury
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Marcellinus
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caius
- https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-717557
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Leo_XIV
- https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/shalom/
- Tanakh
- ABC news
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Peter
