By The pontiff reflected on military values in a private audience with the Military Ordinariate of Portugal on Aug. 24.
Pope Leo XIV has emphasized the nobility of a soldier’s mission to defend one’s homeland and uphold the rule of law.
The pontiff held a private audience on Aug. 24 at the Vatican with a delegation from the Military Ordinariate of Portugal, which celebrated 60 years since its establishment in 1966. The delegation included members of the Army, Air Force, Navy, National Republican Guard, and Public Security Police.
Leo, in his remarks, remembered two Portuguese soldiers who were killed on Aug. 21 in a car accident while helping a truck driver with a flat tire.
‘Remain firm in defending your homeland’
The pope also urged the Christian soldiers present to remain steadfast in their mission to protect their citizens, citing the Roman centurion at Capernaum, who asked Jesus for a miracle for his servant.
“Every day, each of you has the noble mission of defending the sovereignty of your homeland and the rule of law, safeguarding the security of your fellow citizens and protecting them from injustice,” Leo said. “Be strong in the Lord like the centurion who, in Capernaum, approached Jesus. He knew well the values by which you shape your lives: obedience, discipline, self-denial, loyalty, camaraderie, dedication, responsibility, and courage.”
The pope also highlighted the need for military personnel to remain humble, as the Roman centurion was.
“If, on the one hand, this soldier was aware of his authority, on the other hand, he showed before the Son of God the strength of faith and the courage of humility,” Leo said.
Past addresses to the military
Leo has held other private audiences with military personnel, most recently meeting with the Military Ordinariate of Italy in March, during which he declared that soldiers must work to promote peace.
The pope and the Holy See have also criticized certain military actions as unjust, including those by the United States in its war with Iran. In his Palm Sunday homily in March, he sharply condemned war and the use of religion to justify violence, saying that God “does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war.”
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“Pope Leo XIV has emphasized the nobility of a soldier’s mission to… uphold the rule of law.”
–But the U.S. bishops disregard the rule of law and advise Catholics to do the same. In their voting guide for the 2024 election the bishops advised Catholics TO VOTE FOR THOSE WHO PROTECT
“Authorized and UNUAUTHORIZED IMMIGRANTS”
–The bishops are therefore complicit in the consequences of this disregard for U.S. law. Here are just a few of the recent consequences of this disregard for U.S. law and indeed common sense:
—Illegal alien fugitive arrested after allegedly slashing woman’s throat in Tennessee
• https://www.breitbart.com/immigration/2026/06/16/illegal-alien-fugitive-arrested-after-allegedly-slashing-womans-throat-tennessee/
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• The OFFICE OF THE TENNESSEE DISTRICT ATTORNEYS GENERAL Conference has released its annual state immigration report revealing that IN 2025, ILLEGAL MIGRANTS COMMITTED 2,183 VIOLENT OFFENSES, INCLUDING 41 HOMICIDES, 145 SEXUAL OFFENSES, 11 CHILD RAPES, AND MORE. Tennessee Releases Staggering Stats on Migrant Crime
• https://www.breitbart.com/immigration/2026/02/02/tennessee-releases-staggering-stats-migrant-crime/
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—735 Criminal Illegal Aliens Arrested by ICE-Houston Officers— accounted for more than 1,700 criminal convictions, WITH NEARLY 1,200 involving VIOLENT CONVICTIONS, INCLUDING MURDERERS, CHILD PREDATORS
https://www.breitbart.com/border/2026/06/18/exclusive-735-criminal-illegal-aliens-arrested-by-ice-houston-agents-in-may-nearly-1200-with-violent-convictions-including-murderers-child-predators/
—ICE Deports Illegal Aliens Gang Members Convicted of Attempted Murder, Burglary
• https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/08/21/ice-deports-illegal-gang-members-convicted-of-attempted-murder-burglary/
—Illegal Alien Accused of Pouring Hot Wax on Daughter, Setting Fire Inside Miami Home
• https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/08/21/illegal-alien-accused-of-pouring-hot-wax-on-daughter-setting-fire-inside-miami-home/
—DOJ Indicts Illegal Aliens Accused of Massive Democrat Administratin-Era Child Trafficking Scheme
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/06/11/doj-indicts-three-illegal-aliens-accused-of-smuggling-migrant-children-into-us/
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• ICE Agents Deport Illegal Aliens Convicted of Murder, Rape, Drug Trafficking
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/07/29/ice-agents-deport-illegal-alien-convicted-of-murder-rape-drug-trafficking/
ICE Deports Illegal Aliens Convicted of Kidnapping, Armed Assault, Cocaine Smuggling
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/07/31/ice-deports-illegal-aliens-convicted-of-kidnapping-armed-assault-cocaine-smuggling/
ICE Deports Illegal Alien Gang Members Convicted of Manslaughter, Attempted Murder, Rape
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/08/12/ice-deports-illegal-alien-gang-members-convicted-of-manslaughter-attempted-murder-rape/
Chicago Threw $640M in Tax Dollars at Illegal Migrants Over Two Years
https://www.breitbart.com/immigration/2026/08/21/chicago-threw-640m-in-tax-dollars-at-illegal-migrants-over-two-years/
•
• The ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT accused of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a teenage girl at Freedom Park in Idaho on Wednesday night appeared in court Friday. Lozano Flores illegally crossed the Democrat administration’s open southern border into New Mexico in 2023, but was apprehended by U.S. Border Patrol and agreed to voluntarily return to Mexico, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has revealed.He then reentered the U.S. at an unknown location and date.
https://www.kivitv.com/news/local-news/in-your-neighborhood/ada-county/new-details-suspect-charged-in-freedom-park-sexual-assault-kidnapping-held-on-3-million-bail
• Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) DEPORTED SEVERAL ILLEGAL ALIENS LAST WEEK, INCLUDING THOSE CONVICTED OF HOMICIDE, RAPE, AND ANIMAL ABUSE, Breitbart News has learned. “In the last week alone, ICE has deported dangerous criminals from our country, including murderers, rapists, drug traffickers, and violent assailants,” DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said in a statement.
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/08/05/exclusive-ice-deports-illegal-aliens-convicted-homicide-rape-animal-abuse/
Democrat Administration-Parole Migrant Accused of Raping 2 Women in Salt Lake City, Utah
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/08/04/biden-parole-migrant-accused-of-raping-2-women-in-salt-lake-city-utah/
• Turkish Illegal Unleashed by Democrat Administration Charged With Sexually Abusing 6-Year-Old at California Daycare. DHS said the child’s mother reported that Bagci “lured the girl into a closet pretending to play hide-and-seek, where he sexually assaulted her.” ”He then allegedly brought the girl into a bathroom and raped her that same day,” DHS SAID. BAGCI HAD BEEN REMOVED FROM THE COUNTRY BY THE U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION IN NOVEMBER 2023 AND AGAIN IN SEPTEMBER 2024.
https://borderhawk.news/exclusive-turkish-illegal-unleashed-by-biden-charged-with-sexually-abusing-6-year-old-at-california-daycare/
https://x.com/DHSgov
Indian National on Student Visa Accused of Murdering 19-Year-Old Julissa Salazar
https://www.breitbart.com/immigration/2026/08/12/report-indian-national-on-student-visa-accused-of-murdering-19-year-old-julissa-salazar/
Illegal alien, reportedly released into the United States by the Democrat administration, is now accused of murdering a mother of a 3-year-old girl in Fairfax County, Virginia.
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/08/19/report-biden-released-illegal-alien-accused-of-murdering-mother-of-3-year-old-in-virginia/
• Democrat administration’s Arab ‘Migrants’ Charged With Child Rape in Utah
https://borderhawk.news/bidens-arab-migrants-charged-with-child-rape-in-utah/
• An illegal alien from Guatemala has been charged with committing heinous sex crimes against under 14 young victims in the state of Utah.
https://borderhawk.news/exclusive-previously-deported-guatemalan-charged-with-raping-underage-sisters-in-utah/
• llegal Alien Charged with Sexually Assaulting, Murdering 2-Year-Old Girl in Virginia
https://www.breitbart.com/immigration/2026/07/22/illegal-alien-charged-sexually-assaulting-murdering-2-year-old-girl-virginia/
Illegal Alien Released from Jail Accused of Fatally Stabbing Retiree One Day Later in Sanctuary California
https://www.breitbart.com/immigration/2026/08/13/video-illegal-alien-released-jail-accused-fatally-stabbing-retiree-one-day-later-sanctuary-california/
Kentucky: Illegal Alien Accused of Raping, Sodomizing 15-Year-Old Girl
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/08/13/kentucky-illegal-alien-accused-raping-sodomizing-15-year-old-girl/
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Peace keeping is a noble mission.
Soldiers and civilians are fellow pilgrims on a common journey.
Using methods and techniques to protect, promote, and enhance the gift of life on the land of their birth is a privilege soldiers are called to enjoy.
Wishing every soldier wisdom and their loved ones protection, joy and happiness