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“War is always a defeat,” pontiff reminds world leaders during weekly audience
In a powerful and emotional address at the Vatican’s weekly General Audience, Pope Leo XIV delivered a scathing condemnation of global conflicts and the escalating use of modern weaponry. Calling for renewed peace efforts, the pontiff urged nations to resist the normalization of war and the seductive power of advanced military technology.
“We must never become accustomed to war,” Pope Leo declared before a packed crowd in St. Peter’s Square. “Let us reject as a temptation the allure of powerful and sophisticated weapons. War is not progress—it is a step backward into barbarism.”
The Pope’s comments come amid mounting international tensions and multiple active conflicts, including hostilities in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Central Africa. Without referencing specific nations or conflicts, Pope Leo’s words carried a clear sense of urgency and moral clarity, offering a spiritual rebuke to what he described as “a growing global culture of violence.”
Echoes of Pope Francis
Pope Leo’s address notably echoed the long-held stance of his predecessor, Pope Francis, who famously stated: “War is always a defeat.” Pope Leo reaffirmed this principle, urging political leaders and citizens alike to reject violence and embrace diplomacy.
“Modern conflict risks bringing combatants to a barbarism far greater than that of times past,” he warned. “Today’s wars are fought with scientific weapons of all kinds, capable of destruction on a scale our ancestors could never imagine.”
The Pope’s remarks follow renewed calls from faith-based and humanitarian organizations for global ceasefires and peaceful negotiations in war-torn regions. Vatican officials later confirmed that Pope Leo has been holding private talks with international envoys to encourage peace-building efforts behind the scenes.
A Timely Warning
Pope Leo’s message is being interpreted by analysts as a timely and direct appeal to the conscience of global leaders, many of whom are grappling with the ethical and geopolitical consequences of militarization, artificial intelligence in warfare, and nuclear modernization programs.
In a world becoming increasingly divided by ideology and armed power, the Pope’s spiritual leadership provides a counter-narrative grounded in human dignity, compassion, and peace.
“Let us never be indifferent to the suffering of innocent people,” the Pope concluded. “Every child orphaned, every city destroyed, every soldier killed these are not victories. These are the wounds of a world that has forgotten peace.”
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