Pope Leo XIV: Wars are unworthy of humanity, and solutions lie in reason and dialogue

Pope Leo XIV issued an urgent appeal to the international community to end armed conflicts and resort to the logic of dialogue and reason. This came during his presiding over a mass at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, marking the start of the two-day meeting of the College of Cardinals to discuss current challenges.

The American-born Pontiff stressed that wars cannot be an acceptable means of resolving disputes between nations and peoples. In his homily, he expressed his deep regret over the escalating international tensions that are tearing apart the fabric of the human family and leaving deep wounds in the conscience of humanity.

The Pope affirmed in his address to the College of Cardinals that the use of military force contradicts human dignity, which the Creator distinguished with reason. He clarified that technological development in weapons manufacturing does not justify resorting to them; rather, human will must be the primary driver for establishing lasting peace.

This meeting, known as the 'Consistory,' is the second of its kind since Leo XIV's election in May 2025. Approximately 241 cardinals representing various continents are participating in this session, including cardinals eligible to vote in future papal elections.

The meeting aims to strengthen the collective approach to managing the affairs of the Catholic Church and expand the scope of consultation among spiritual leaders. The agenda includes four intensive sessions highlighting the political, economic, and social crises currently afflicting different regions of the world.

For his part, the Archbishop of Algiers, Cardinal Jean-Paul Vesco, stated that this gathering represents a real opportunity for sharing and unity among members of the ecclesiastical body. He noted that the Pope's vision focuses on unifying efforts and strengthening communication channels to confront the increasing challenges, whose nature varies from one region to another.

Vatican observers believe that the intensification of these meetings reflects the new leadership's desire to bring about a transformation in the style of ecclesiastical administration. Pope Leo XIV seeks to make the College of Cardinals an effective platform for exchanging views and formulating unified positions on major global issues.

War is never worthy of humanity, and it is never blessed by God, for the Creator endowed us with reason and will to resolve conflicts as humans, not as beasts.