on 23 march, easter sunday, at the holy name cathedral in chicago, a group of anti-war demonstrators – calling themselves catholic schoolgirls against the war – stood up during the homily (sermon) and "decried the deaths of 4,000 u.s. soldiers and thousands of iraqi citizens" declaring "even the pope calls for peace!" security guards ushered the protesters out as the demonstrators splattered themselves with stage blood getting some on nearby worshipers, six were subsequently arrested by police. after the service a cardinal lamented the protests but affirmed the catholic church's position against u.s.-led warfare in iraq. both pope benedict xvi and the united states conference of catholic bishops have opposed the iraq war since its inception, and the pope used his easter homily to renew calls for an iraq resolution to "safeguard peace and the common good."