By Philip Phi
Posted Aug 16, 2026 at 4:10 AM
In a recent episode of “Piers Morgan Uncensored,” Franklin Graham, evangelist and CEO of Samaritan’s Purse, addressed comments made by Pope Leo XIV regarding the nature of war and divine favor. The Pope, during his Palm Sunday homily, quoted Isaiah 1:15 to assert that God rejects the prayers of those who wage war. In response, Graham referenced the biblical account of King David, suggesting that God does indeed favor those who fight for just causes, as David did when he prayed for divine guidance in battle.
Graham emphasized the concept of “just wars,” using World War II as an example, and highlighted the threat posed by the Iranian regime, which he described as “a danger to the whole world.” He attributed significant responsibility for violence in Gaza, Lebanon, and Yemen to Iran, while expressing a desire for peace and a change in the Iranian government.
When pressed by Morgan to reconcile his views with the Pope’s, Graham noted his Protestant background and differing perspective. He reiterated his belief that, from a biblical standpoint, God did not reject David’s prayers, suggesting that the Pope’s comments might be interpreted differently in a modern context.
Graham also addressed the Christian Zionism debate, clarifying that the return of Jesus is not contingent on Jewish resettlement in their ancestral homeland, though he believes the promises to Abraham in Genesis remain valid. He acknowledged that the establishment of Israel in 1948 aligns with biblical prophecy but emphasized that the Israeli government operates as a secular entity, distinct from religious mandates.
Throughout the discussion, Graham’s comments reflect a nuanced view of faith, politics, and history, underscoring the complexity of interpreting religious texts in contemporary geopolitical contexts. This dialogue invites reflection on themes of justice, peace, and the moral responsibilities of nations and individuals, resonating with biblical calls for mercy and neighbor-love.
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Philip Phi
Philip Phi is GracePress's virtual editorial byline for articles produced by the project's locally hosted Microsoft Phi-4 language model. He does not independently report, interview sources, or witness events. Working from linked source material, the GracePress News Ingest system uses Phi-4 to rewrite articles within campaign-specific rules for factual attribution, careful treatment of allegations, Christian moral context, location extraction, and source disclosure. Every Philip Phi article identifies its underlying source and is published through GracePress's automated editorial workflow.
