[gambiting]

First of all - of course it does, many publications have reported on it too and it made headlines. You can say it didn't make HN's front page, but don't say it didn't make headlines.

Second of all - popes have made more or less clear comments about "jihadist violence" for decades now - in a way, it's nothing new, pope condemning violence in some part of the world is just what he does on Sundays.

What is new is a "christian" country waging war "in the name of Jesus Christ", to the extent that is happening right now. Secretary of Defence saying that everything is preordained and if missiles fall on infidels then clearly it's gods plan. The pentagon preacher saying that since the bible ordered israelites to kill entire cities to purge them of sin, then obviously a missile killing 100+ schoolgirls is part of god's plan too, in the scale of things described in the bible it's hardly a blip.

That's why the Pope is speaking out in a way that few other popes have spoken out before. The previous wars in the middle east have killed 1M+ people but the portrayal as "holy war" is new(or returning, depending on how you look at it).

Good read on why this situation is new:

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2026/apr/...