Pope Leo XIV has expressed concern that war is once again becoming commonplace, warning that the global order is drifting away from dialogue toward the use of force.
Speaking on Friday, January 9, in his New Year address to diplomats at the Vatican, the pontiff criticised the weakening of multilateralism and said diplomacy rooted in dialogue was increasingly being replaced by what he described as “diplomacy based on force.”
He pointed to rising tensions in the Caribbean and the Pacific as a source of deep concern, singling out Venezuela following the recent seizure of its president by US forces. His remarks came hours after US President Donald Trump announced plans for land operations against drug cartels after maritime attacks in the eastern Pacific and Caribbean.
Pope Leo called on world leaders to respect the will of the Venezuelan people and to uphold the human and civil rights of all, amid comments suggesting long-term US control over Venezuela and its oil resources.
He warned that the post–Second World War principle prohibiting the use of force to violate national borders had been severely undermined, noting that peace was increasingly being pursued through weapons rather than dialogue.
“War is back in vogue, and a growing enthusiasm for conflict is spreading,” the Pope said, adding that such trends pose a grave threat to the rule of law, which underpins peaceful coexistence.
He stressed that international law must always take precedence over the ambitions of warring parties and condemned the destruction of hospitals, energy facilities, homes, and other essential infrastructure as serious violations of international humanitarian law.
The pontiff urged the global community to prioritise human dignity and the sanctity of life above national interests, while also warning against a renewed arms race, particularly involving advanced weapons powered by artificial intelligence.
Addressing ongoing global conflicts, Pope Leo reiterated his support for a two-state solution in the Middle East and expressed concern over increasing violence in the occupied West Bank, affirming the right of Palestinian civilians to live in peace on their land.