Pope Leo XIV condemned the arms trade during a conversation with journalists. The Pope emphasized the importance of promoting the dignity of every human being, regardless of religion. Pope Leo XIV stated that he never stopped following current events during his stay in Castel Gandolfo. The Pope expressed his desire to promote peace.
13 days ago
Pope Leo XIV has returned to the Vatican after a 16-day working holiday at his summer residence in Castel Gandolfo 1, 2, 3. Upon his return, the Pontiff engaged with journalists, reiterating the Church's unwavering commitment to peace and addressing pressing global issues 1, 3. He arrived back at the Vatican shortly before 9 p.m. on July 22 1, 3.
A central theme of Pope Leo's remarks was a strong condemnation of the arms trade, which he described as the financial driver behind conflicts 1, 3. He urged everyone to "leave weapons behind" and abandon the "money-making that is behind every war" 1. The Pope stressed that the arms trade reduces people to "mere instruments without any value," undermining human dignity 1, 3. This call for disarmament is framed as both a political and moral imperative, rooted in the sanctity of every life 3.
Pope Leo XIV consistently highlighted the "dignity of every human being," asserting that all individuals—Christian, Muslim, and people of every religion—are "God's children, created in God's image" 1, 3. This message underscores the Church's teaching that human dignity is inherent and not contingent on creed or nationality 3. He affirmed that the Church would continue its efforts to promote this fundamental principle 1.
While acknowledging his personal desire to visit war-torn regions like Gaza, Pope Leo indicated that physical presence alone might not be the most effective "formula for finding an answer" 1, 3. Despite his retreat, he remained closely engaged with world events, even holding discussions with heads of state, such as Volodymyr Zelensky 3. The Pope expressed gratitude that "the voice of the Church is still important" in advocating for peace 1, 3.
The Pope described his time at Castel Gandolfo as a "working holiday," emphasizing that he never ceased following current events 1, 3. During his stay at Villa Barberini, he presided over three Masses, including a liturgy focused on care for creation in the "Borgo Laudato Si’" garden 3. This period allowed him to "change the air a little" while remaining deeply connected to global affairs and the Church's mission 3.
What is the Church's teaching on war and peace?
The Catholic Church's teaching on war and peace is multifaceted, emphasizing the pursuit of peace as a fruit of justice and love, while also acknowledging the legitimate right to self-defense under strict conditions. The Church consistently advocates for peaceful means of conflict resolution and views war as a tragic failure of human dignity , , .
Peace is not merely the absence of war or a balance of power, but rather "the tranquility of order," achieved through safeguarding human dignity, free communication, justice, solidarity, and integral human development . The Church proclaims that violence is inherently evil and an unacceptable solution to problems, as it destroys dignity, life, and freedom . Therefore, efforts should always be made to prevent conflicts, resolve them peacefully, and promote reconciliation .
Threats to peace, and thus causes of war, include injustice, jealousy, suspicion, and pride among individuals and nations . The Church encourages international law, honest dialogue, solidarity among states, and diplomacy as means to resolve conflicts in a manner consistent with human dignity . Pope John Paul II echoed Pope Pius XII's appeal, stating, "Nothing is lost with peace; all may be lost with war. Let men return to mutual understanding. Let them begin negotiations anew!" .
While prioritizing peace, the Catholic tradition recognizes the legitimacy of the "just war" doctrine as a means of defending the innocent in the face of grave evil , . This doctrine aims to limit the outbreak of war and govern its conduct . The use of military force can be justified only in cases of extreme necessity as a means of legitimate self-defense .
For the use of force to be licit, it must meet several strict conditions, traditionally enumerated in the just war doctrine:
The evaluation of these conditions for moral legitimacy belongs to the prudential judgment of those responsible for the common good . A war of aggression is intrinsically immoral .
The Church acknowledges that due to the destructive nature of contemporary means and methods of war, particularly weapons of mass destruction, practically no conditions exist for a just launching of war, as it poses a terrible threat to humanity .
The Church also raises fundamental moral concerns about the preventive use of military force . Specific actions condemned include torture, which is fundamentally incompatible with human dignity and counterproductive , and the indiscriminate use of drones for violent purposes . The Church also opposes attacks against noncombatants and genocide .
Nations have a right and obligation to defend human life and the common good against terrorism, aggression, and similar threats, such as the persecution of individuals based on their religion . This demands effective responses to terror, moral assessment and restraint in the means used, respect for ethical limits on the use of force, a focus on the roots of terror, and fair distribution of the burdens of responding to terror .
The Church honors the commitment and sacrifice of those who serve in armed forces and recognizes the moral right to conscientious objection to war in general, a particular war, or a military procedure . While recognizing the justifiable use of military force, the Church encourages reallocating resources from armed conflict to address the urgent needs of the poor and the root causes of violence . It also supports policies that protect refugees of war and violence, and all people suffering religious persecution .