VATICAN — The world is currently on edge as Pope Leo XIV has evacuated the Apostolic Nunciature in Tel Aviv, noting through private communications that “war is imminent.” This comes after weeks of political posturing by the Vatican, including retweeting memes about the crusades.

Leo’s ambitions for Israel began during an interview at the beginning of his pontificate, when he told Crux News “the situation in Gaza is complicated. Both Israelis and Palestinians desire the land. Neither party realizes that this land belongs entirely to the Holy Church of Rome.”

As weeks progressed, the Holy Father’s rhetoric only grew starker. During his Wednesday audience, the Holy Father remarked, “Israel is ours. Gaza is ours. All others are visitors, tourists, guests, and at worse, intruders.” The Holy Father continued by giving justification for Vatican military interventions, “As in the medieval era, Christians could not go to the Holy Land without fear of torture by the Mohammedans, now Christians are disrespected by perfidious Jew and Moslem alike.”

Experts say that this tracks with Leo’s pattern of interventionist diplomacy. Just ten days ago, the Vatican announced that it would not be joining President Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace” in favor of creating a “Board of Chaos.”

Time will tell how the Vatican’s campaign for the Holy Land will go, considering its military force consists entirely in 135 Swiss Guards.