Pope Leo XIV has warned that the global order is entering a dangerous phase marked by the return of war as an accepted instrument of policy, as he addressed diplomats accredited to the Holy See at the Vatican. Speaking during the annual New Year audience, the Pope said international cooperation is weakening and that diplomacy based on dialogue is increasingly being replaced by the logic of force. He cautioned that principles established after the Second World War, particularly the rejection of territorial conquest through violence, are being steadily eroded. According to the Pope, this shift threatens not only peace but the rule of law itself, undermining the foundations of coexistence among nations and placing civilians at growing risk across multiple regions.
Surveying global conflicts, Pope Leo XIV renewed appeals for ceasefires and dialogue, pointing to ongoing wars and humanitarian crises in Ukraine and the Holy Land. He reiterated support for a two state solution that would secure justice and lasting peace for both Palestinians and Israelis, while lamenting continued civilian suffering despite ceasefire efforts. He also addressed the political crisis in Venezuela, calling for respect for the will of the people and the protection of human and civil rights. Throughout the address, the Pope emphasized the Holy See’s readiness to support any initiative that promotes peace, stressing that stability cannot be achieved through coercion or domination.
The address also marked a sharper tone on life issues, with Pope Leo XIV dedicating significant attention to abortion, surrogacy, and care for the vulnerable. He expressed deep concern over initiatives that fund access to abortion across borders and criticized the use of public resources for practices that suppress life rather than support mothers and families. Surrogacy was described as a violation of the dignity of both the child and the woman, reducing human life to a transaction. The Pope also urged governments to invest in care for the elderly, the sick, and the isolated, warning against approaches that normalize euthanasia under the guise of compassion.
Beyond policy and conflict, the Pope linked the erosion of peace to a deeper breakdown in language and human rights. He warned that words are increasingly used as tools to manipulate or exclude, weakening genuine dialogue and narrowing the space for freedom of conscience and religion. According to the Pope, fundamental rights including freedom of expression and even the right to life are being restricted in the name of new ideologies, draining the human rights framework of its moral force. His address presented a sobering assessment of the global moment, while calling diplomats to recover truth, dignity, and dialogue as the only viable path away from violence.
