Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV has warned that the effects of war reach far beyond battlefields, destroying families, communities, natural resources and the environment while leaving wounds that can last for generations.
In his message for the 11th World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, the Pope called on people to reject violence and work for peace through dialogue, justice, mercy, patience and love. The message was published by the Holy See Press Office on Thursday ahead of the annual observance on September 1.
This year’s theme is taken from the words of the prophet Isaiah, “They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.” The theme highlights the connection between peace, human life and care for the environment.
Pope Leo said the world has been entrusted with several interconnected ecosystems, including the natural environment, human relationships and the human heart. He argued that protecting these areas requires more than political agreements or changes to public institutions. It also requires a change in the way people think and act.
According to the Pope, weapons cannot create lasting peace. Instead, he pointed to truth, dialogue, patience, goodness, justice, mercy, understanding, care and love as the real tools needed to build peaceful societies.
He said these values can transform individuals, strengthen communities and help heal the deep wounds affecting the world. While he acknowledged that the path to peace is difficult, he said the direction is clear. People must allow their hearts to be renewed and learn to care for both one another and creation.
Pope Leo also drew attention to the many crises facing the world today. Human suffering, armed conflicts and damage to the environment are taking place at the same time, and he said these problems should not be viewed as separate issues.
He described them as signs of a wounded world calling for healing and peace.
The Pope placed particular emphasis on the relationship between war and environmental destruction. Armed conflicts can damage ecosystems, pollute air and water, destroy farmland and threaten food supplies. These effects can increase poverty and inequality and create new tensions within societies.
The consequences of war can also continue long after fighting has ended. People lose their homes and livelihoods, families are separated and communities can remain divided for years. Environmental damage can make recovery even harder, leaving future generations to deal with the consequences.
Pope Leo said war therefore damages the wider fabric of life. It affects individuals and communities while also harming relationships between people and the natural world.
He described war not only as a political failure but also as a moral and spiritual failure. In his view, violence is often connected to a desire for domination, the misuse of power, the pursuit of immediate profit and a failure to recognize the dignity of every human being.
For the Pope, genuine peace must therefore begin with a renewal of the human heart. Reforming institutions and political structures is important, but he said those changes will not be enough if people remain driven by greed, hatred or the desire to control others.
He called for a deeper personal and collective conversion that can help people reorder their priorities, overcome destructive desires and develop greater respect for human life and creation.
Pope Leo also offered a message of hope. He said that things once used for destruction can be redirected toward protecting life, helping poor communities, feeding the hungry and caring for the environment.
This, he said, is part of authentic ecological conversion. The way people treat the earth is closely connected to the way they treat other people. A genuine encounter with Christ should therefore influence relationships, communities and attitudes toward creation.
The Pope acknowledged that the challenges facing the world are enormous, but he stressed that humanity has the means to pursue healing and transformation.
His message ultimately presents peace and environmental care as closely connected responsibilities. Ending violence, protecting vulnerable people and safeguarding creation are not separate tasks but part of a wider effort to restore harmony in the world.
As the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation approaches, Pope Leo is urging people to turn away from destruction and choose a different path, one based on reconciliation, care and respect for life.
He expressed hope that weapons of war can eventually be transformed into instruments that serve human life and that the message of peace can take deeper root in societies around the world.