War Is Back In Vogue” – Pope Leo XIV Warns World Leaders, Seeks Dialogue Over Force
“War Is Back In Vogue” – Pope Leo XIV Warns World Leaders, Seeks Dialogue Over Force
In unusually blunt language, the pontiff warned that the world is drifting toward a dangerous mindset where power is prioritised over principle and coercion over consensus.
Pope Leo XIV has issued a stark warning to the international community, declaring that “war is back in vogue” as nations increasingly pursue peace through military force rather than justice, diplomacy, and dialogue.
Speaking during his address to the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Holy See, the Pope expressed deep concern over the resurgence of armed conflict, geopolitical rivalries, and the erosion of trust in multilateral institutions designed to safeguard global peace.
In unusually blunt language, the pontiff warned that the world is drifting toward a dangerous mindset where power is prioritised over principle and coercion over consensus.
“Peace is no longer being built through justice, patience and mutual respect,” Pope Leo XIV said in a video clip Vatican News shared on X handle (formerly Twitter). “Instead, it is increasingly sought through force, intimidation and the logic of domination.”
The Pope called on political leaders and diplomats to rediscover humility as a cornerstone of international relations, stressing that no nation, however powerful, can claim moral superiority or act as the sole arbiter of global order.
He criticised what he described as a growing culture of unilateralism, where states bypass international law and collective decision-making in favour of narrow national interests.
According to the Pope, the weakening of multilateralism has left fragile regions more vulnerable, civilians more exposed, and conflicts more prolonged.
“When dialogue is abandoned, weapons speak,” he warned. “And when weapons speak, it is always the innocent who pay the highest price.”
Warning that “war is back in vogue” and that peace is increasingly sought through force rather than justice, Pope Leo XIV issued a strong appeal for humility, dialogue, and a renewed commitment to multilateralism in his address to the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Holy See. pic.twitter.com/JO5UxGKhFA
— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) January 9, 2026
Pope Leo XIV urged renewed commitment to global institutions, particularly those that promote dialogue, mediation and cooperation, saying they remain essential despite their imperfections.
He emphasised that true peace cannot be imposed by force but must be patiently built through listening, compromise and justice, especially in a world grappling with wars, displacement, economic inequality and climate-related crises.
The address comes amid ongoing conflicts across multiple regions, rising military expenditures, and increasing diplomatic tensions between major global powers — developments that many observers say reflect the Pope’s concerns.
Diplomats present at the address described the message as one of the strongest critiques yet by the pontiff of contemporary global politics, underscoring the Holy See’s long-standing advocacy for peaceful resolution of conflicts.
Concluding his remarks, Pope Leo XIV appealed directly to world leaders to resist the temptation of violence and to “have the courage to choose peace, even when it is difficult.”
The Vatican said the address was intended to set the tone for its diplomatic engagement in the coming year, reaffirming the Holy See’s role as a moral voice urging restraint, dialogue and cooperation in an increasingly fractured world.
