Vatican City: From the heart of the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV delivered a somber and urgent message on Wednesday, echoing the powerful sentiments of his predecessor, Pope Francis: "War is always a defeat!" The Pontiff issued a stark warning that the "atrocity" of contemporary scientific weaponry risks plunging humanity into "barbarism far greater than in the past," urging global leaders to remember that "nothing is lost with peace; everything can be lost with war."
During his weekly General Audience, Pope Leo XIV lamented that "the heart of the Church is rent asunder by the cries rising up from places of war," explicitly mentioning the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine, Iran, Israel, and Gaza. He adamantly insisted that the world "must never become accustomed to war" and called for the rejection of "the allure of powerful and sophisticated weapons," highlighting their potential to escalate conflicts to unprecedented levels of destruction.
The Holy Father underscored the grave danger posed by the widespread use of "scientific weapons of all kinds," asserting that their deployment in modern warfare threatens to lead combatants to a level of "barbarism far greater than that of times past." He directly appealed to world leaders, reinforcing Pope Francis's frequent pronouncement that "War is always a defeat!" Furthermore, he invoked the timeless wisdom of Pope Pius XII, who guided the Church through World War II, by quoting his profound statement: "Nothing is lost with peace. Everything can be lost with war."
In a powerful reiteration of these humanitarian principles, Pope Leo XIV declared, "Therefore, in the name of human dignity and international law, I repeat to those responsible what Pope Francis used to say: 'War is always a defeat!' And with Pius XII, 'Nothing is lost with peace. Everything can be lost with war.'"
The Pope's heartfelt appeal comes amidst intensifying global conflicts, vividly demonstrating the devastating human cost of armed struggle:
Ukraine Endures Relentless Russian Air Strikes: Recent weeks have seen a dramatic escalation in Russian airstrikes targeting civilian areas across Ukraine. Overnight drone and missile attacks tragically claimed at least 18 lives and wounded 151, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky characterizing these assaults as among the most horrific since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. The United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine specifically highlighted the Kyiv attack as the deadliest this year, cautioning against the perilous tactic of simultaneously deploying missiles and numerous drones into populated urban centers. Danielle Bell, Head of HRMMU, stated that "Last night's attack exemplifies the grave threat posed by the tactic... which leads to civilian casualties, and profound suffering."
Iran-Israel Conflict Escalates, Forcing Mass Exodus from Tehran: As Israel continues its targeted strikes aimed at dismantling Iran's nuclear program, thousands of people are reportedly fleeing the Iranian capital, Tehran. Initial Israeli strikes are believed to have resulted in over 220 fatalities, including military leaders and nuclear scientists, with Israeli military sources claiming their air force hit 20 targets in Tehran overnight. In retaliation, Iran has launched approximately 400 missiles towards Israel, with around 40 successfully penetrating Israeli air defenses. Israeli authorities report that these retaliatory strikes have killed 24 people.
Gaza's Humanitarian Crisis Deepens Amidst Ongoing Israeli Operations: In Gaza, Israeli military operations continue with the stated aim of dismantling Hamas. This offensive began in response to Hamas's armed incursions into Israel in October 2023, which claimed approximately 1,200 Israeli lives and resulted in the capture of around 250 hostages, over 50 of whom remain in captivity. A particularly harrowing incident occurred on Tuesday when Israeli tanks reportedly fired upon crowds awaiting humanitarian aid trucks, leading to tragic casualties. Medics at the scene reported almost sixty deaths and over 220 wounded, with about 20 individuals in critical condition. While Israel acknowledged firing in the area, it stated it was investigating the incident. Gaza's health ministry indicates that nearly 400 Palestinians have been killed and over 3,000 wounded since the end of May, with a significant number of casualties among civilians seeking aid. The ministry further claims that over 55,000 Palestinians have been killed since the start of Israel's invasion, and nearly the entire population of Gaza has been displaced by the ongoing violence. The Pope's impassioned plea underscores the urgent need for diplomatic solutions and a renewed commitment to peace.