Pope Leo Says US-Israeli War Against Iran Not ‘Just War’
Leo says modern weapons and civilian harm make just war theory outdated, and calls for dialogue, diplomacy and forgiveness instead.
- On Saturday, Pope Leo XIV stated aboard the papal plane that the war in Iran does not qualify as a 'just war' according to Catholic teaching, answering questions from journalists during his six-day visit to Spain.
- United States Vice President JD Vance invoked 'just war' theory in April to defend military action against Iran and warned the Pope to 'be careful' when discussing theology, prompting Leo's direct rejection.
- In his encyclical 'Magnifica Humanitas,' Pope Leo argues just war theory is 'now outdated,' stating 'the just war theory comes from centuries past when we couldn't imagine the weapons, human beings' ability for destruction.'
- President Donald Trump later described Pope Leo as 'weak' on foreign policy in a Truth Social post, while Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called Trump's remarks 'unacceptable,' defending the pontiff's position.
- Aboard the plane, Pope Leo also expressed concern for Ukraine, stating 'we must really push to reach an end to the conflict and find a solution,' while maintaining his broader diplomatic mission across Spain.
14 Articles
14 Articles
Mehr News Agency
islamtimes.comPope Leo, Spanish PM condemn war on Iran as unjust, illegal
TEHRAN, Jun. 06 (MNA) – Pope Leo of Vatican has labeled the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran as“unjust,” while the Spanish premier Sánchez calls it “illegal.”
The Express Tribune
Anadolu AjansıPope Leo says US-Israeli war against Iran not ‘just war’
Pope Leo XIV said the war being waged by the United States and Israel against Iran was not a “just war”, arguing that the centuries-old theory no longer reflected the realities of modern warfare. Speaking to journalists aboard his flight from Rome to Madrid during the fourth foreign trip of his pontificate, the pope was asked whether the conflict in Iran could be considered a just war after US Vice President JD Vance invoked the concept while de…
Pope Leo says war with Iran is not a 'just war'
Pope Leo XIV said the war in Iran does not qualify as a “just war” according to Catholic teaching.“I believe it has been already declared clearly,” Leo said while answering questions from journalists aboard the papal plane for his six-day visit to Spain.“There is no just war there,” he said, referencing the conflict in Iran.The question referred to U.S. Vice President JD Vance’s remarks in April, where he used just war theory to justify the war …
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