Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV has called on Russia and Ukraine to sit down for talks and seek a peaceful way to end the war, while warning against the continued growth of military spending and the arms industry.
Speaking to journalists during his flight from Metz to Rome at the end of his Apostolic Journey to France, the Pope said the Church would continue to promote dialogue, human dignity and the value of life rather than violence and war.
He criticised the continued spending on weapons, saying that large sums of money going into the military industry could instead be used to address problems such as hunger, housing and unemployment. He said a small number of people were becoming very wealthy from an industry that promotes war.
Pope Leo said the Church has a responsibility to encourage leaders, including those of Russia and Ukraine, to meet, engage in dialogue and seek ways to resolve their differences without continuing conflicts that, in his words, no longer make sense.
He also spoke about the wider dangers created by growing military tensions, including renewed discussion of nuclear weapons and increasingly destructive wars. He said the Church would continue to raise its voice and proclaim the Gospel, even when its efforts might appear futile.
The Pope also addressed questions about the Church's position on sexual abuse. Referring to his meeting in France with seven victims, he said he wanted to listen to those affected and accompany them in their search for healing. He acknowledged that some victims had described abuse as systemic, while saying he preferred to distinguish between sexual abuse as a human problem and situations in which organisations within the Church had operated abusively.
He said abuse within the Church causes an additional wound because it can deeply damage or destroy a person's life of faith. The Church therefore has a particular responsibility to support victims and help them seek healing.
During the press conference, Pope Leo also defended the Church's right to speak about issues such as the protection of life while respecting the separation between Church and State. Referring to his statements in France about end of life care, he said speaking about the defence of life and the Church's social teaching was not an attempt to enter French politics, but an effort to apply the Gospel to people's lives.
He also addressed the housing crisis affecting many countries. Asked about the case of an elderly woman with a disability who was reportedly evicted from her home in Madrid, the Pope said he was not familiar with the individual case but argued that communities, parishes, dioceses and governments should seek fairer solutions to prevent vulnerable people from losing their homes.
Pope Leo said the housing problem could not be solved by the Church alone and called for political leaders and authorities to examine its underlying causes rather than responding only when emergencies arise.
Artificial intelligence was another major issue raised during the press conference. The Pope said he was not in a state of panic about AI, but stressed that concerns raised by experts about its possible risks should be taken seriously.
He said governments, technology leaders and social organisations should continue discussing how AI is developing and how its risks can be managed. The Vatican has established a commission on artificial intelligence to study how the Holy See uses the technology, as well as its risks and benefits.
Pope Leo said he remained relatively optimistic that responsible development was possible, but warned that society could not simply ignore the potential consequences of increasingly powerful AI systems.
Asked about a possible visit to Germany, the Pope said he hoped to travel there but had no schedule yet. He said his only definitely planned trip for the following year was World Youth Day in Korea.
Reflecting on the Catholic Church in Germany, he rejected the idea that declining numbers necessarily meant the Church was dying. He said there were still many people who wanted to live and celebrate their Christian and Catholic faith, while acknowledging the serious challenges facing the Church.
He also spoke about the rise of extremist political groups and stressed that Christian values should be centred on understanding, compassion and accompaniment rather than hatred and division.
Looking back on his four day visit to France, Pope Leo highlighted his meeting with sick and suffering people in Lourdes and his encounter with around 80,000 young people at a stadium gathering. He said the visit had given him an opportunity to encourage young people who are searching for meaning and hope.
He concluded by thanking the people in the Holy See, the Church in France, the bishops and the many lay people who helped organise the Apostolic Journey.