AP NewsWatch

I'm Ben Thomas with an AP News Minute.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth

due attention last week for comments

at a Pentagon prayer service.

Walter Ratliffe has details.

For the first time since the Iran War began,

Hegseth hosted a Christian prayer service at the Pentagon.

Let every round find its mark

against the enemies of righteousness and our great nation.

He read a prayer that he said was shared with troops

who captured former Venezuelan president Nicholas Maduro.

And we pray it with him this morning.

Critics say Hegseth specific evangelical framing

is new for someone in his role.

Grant this task force.

Clear and righteous targets for violence.

Americans united for separation of church and state

sued for records about the Pentagon's Christian services.

Hegseth also announced capillary forms

and cuts to the military's recognized religious affiliations.

I'm Walter Ratliffe.

At Palm Sunday Mass, Pope Leo said,

God doesn't listen to the prayers of those who make war

or cite God to justify their violence.

I'm Ben Thomas.