Pope Leo XIV has issued a strong warning to global leaders, saying the world is sliding back into a dangerous reliance on military power as a means of resolving conflicts, rather than pursuing peace through justice, diplomacy and dialogue.
Addressing members of the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Holy See, the pontiff expressed deep concern over the growing number of armed conflicts, intensifying geopolitical rivalries and the steady erosion of trust in international institutions established to protect global peace.
In unusually direct language, Pope Leo XIV cautioned that the international community is increasingly embracing a mindset in which power outweighs principle and coercion replaces consensus.
“Peace is no longer being built through justice, patience and mutual respect,” the Pope said in remarks shared by Vatican News. “Instead, it is increasingly sought through force, intimidation and the logic of domination.”
He called on political leaders and diplomats to rediscover humility as a foundation of international relations, stressing that no country, regardless of its strength, has the moral authority to impose itself as the sole judge of global affairs.
The pontiff also criticised the rise of unilateral actions by states, warning that bypassing international law and collective decision-making in favour of narrow national interests has weakened multilateral systems and left vulnerable populations exposed.
“When dialogue is abandoned, weapons speak,” he said, adding that civilians inevitably bear the greatest cost when conflicts escalate. According to the Pope, the decline of multilateral cooperation has prolonged wars, destabilised fragile regions and increased suffering among innocent people.
Pope Leo XIV urged renewed commitment to global institutions that promote mediation, cooperation and dialogue, acknowledging their imperfections but insisting they remain essential to preventing further violence.
He emphasised that genuine peace cannot be enforced through military means, but must be patiently built through listening, compromise and justice, especially at a time when the world is grappling with war, displacement, economic inequality and climate-related crises.
His remarks come amid ongoing conflicts in several regions, rising defence spending worldwide and growing diplomatic tensions between major powers—developments that many observers say reflect the concerns he raised.
Diplomats present at the address described the speech as one of the Pope’s most pointed critiques of contemporary global politics, reinforcing the Holy See’s long-standing call for peaceful resolution of disputes.
In closing, Pope Leo XIV appealed directly to world leaders to resist the pull 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 year ahead, reaffirming its role as a moral voice advocating restraint, dialogue and cooperation in an increasingly divided world.
