Friday, January 9, 2026- In a stark and urgent foreign policy address to diplomats at the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV warned that the world is experiencing a dangerous resurgence of militarism, with war “back in vogue” and a spreading “zeal for war” supplanting dialogue and diplomacy.
He emphasized that nations are increasingly turning to force rather than consensus to resolve disputes, a shift that undermines the post‑war international order and threatens the rule of law that underpins peaceful coexistence among nations. The pontiff urged governments to recommit to dialogue, respect international humanitarian norms, and prevent the erosion of the legal frameworks designed to protect human life and dignity.
Pope Leo also sounded the alarm about human rights violations tied to contemporary conflicts, explicitly calling for the protection of the rights and will of peoples affected by military interventions, including in Venezuela where he stressed respect for civil liberties following recent upheavals.
He highlighted how the increasing prioritization of force over negotiation jeopardizes not only peace but also fundamental human rights such as freedom of expression, conscience, and religious liberty. The pontiff’s message made clear that safeguarding human rights must remain central to any effort aimed at international stability and justice.
Beyond geopolitical tensions, the Pope framed the current climate of conflict as a broader threat to human dignity and ethical governance, warning that the weakening of multilateral cooperation emboldens powerful actors to sideline humanitarian commitments.
By urging global leaders to reject the instinct toward coercion and recommit to principled diplomacy, Pope Leo’s address served as a clarion call for peace, accountability, and a renewal of international efforts to uphold the sanctity of human rights in an increasingly fractured world.
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