Chris Oyakhilome has publicly challenged Pope Leo XIV over a recent homily in which the pontiff stated that Jesus does not listen to the prayers of those who initiate war. The Pope made the remarks during his Palm Sunday address at St. Peter's Square, describing Christ as the "King of Peace" and asserting that God turns away from leaders who wage war. In response, the Nigerian televangelist called the statement a misinterpretation of Scripture, arguing that the Bible contains instances where God directly commands warfare. Oyakhilome cited the Israelites' conquest of the Promised Land as a key example of divinely sanctioned conflict. He emphasized that the morality of war lies not in its initiation but in its alignment with divine purpose. "Jesus is the will of the Father. If you have seen Him, you have seen the Father," Oyakhilome said. "There are many wars God Himself told His children to start. Starting a war is not the problem; the issue is whether it aligns with God's purpose. On this, Pope Leo erred."
A Nigerian preacher has rebuked the Pope over a theological interpretation, and it is Oyakhilome's claim of direct access to divine intent that demands attention. By citing biblical wars as justification for conflict under God's mandate, he positions himself as an interpreter of divine will on par with the head of the Catholic Church. For millions of Nigerians who follow his teachings, this reinforces a worldview where spiritual authority is decentralized and often personalized. Whether this alters global Christian discourse is unlikely, but its resonance in Nigerian faith circles is already evident.
