Pope Leo says war with Iran is not a 'just war' - BERITAJA

Pope Leo XIV talks to journalists aboard the papal formation from Rome to Madrid connected June. Alessandra Tarantino/AP

Alessandra Tarantino/AP

ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE (RNS) — Pope Leo XIV said the warfare successful Iran does not suffice arsenic a "just war" according to Catholic teaching.

"I judge it has been already declared clearly," Leo said while answering questions from journalists aboard the papal level for his six-day sojourn to Spain.

"There is nary conscionable warfare there," he said, referencing the conflict successful Iran.

The mobility referred to U.S. Vice President JD Vance's remarks successful April, wherever he utilized conscionable warfare mentation to warrant the warfare successful Iran. On that occasion, Vance said the pope should "be careful" erstwhile talking about theology.

"When the pope says that God is ne'er connected the broadside of group who wield the sword, location is much than 1,000-year contented of conscionable warfare theory," he said. President Donald Trump later said Leo was "weak" connected warfare successful a station connected Truth Social.

Leo pointed to his about caller encyclical, "Magnifica Humanitas" (Magnificent Humanity), which says that conscionable warfare mentation has "too often been utilized to warrant immoderate benignant of war" and is "now outdated."

"The problem is that the conscionable warfare mentation comes from hundreds of years past erstwhile we couldn't ideate the weapons, quality beings' expertise for destruction," Leo said.

The archive urges replacement ways to flooded conflict — "dialogue, diplomacy and forgiveness" — condemning the usage of unit which disproportionately harms civilians.

The pope has made "overcoming the mentation of the 'just war'" 1 of the themes of the first acme of cardinals he convened astatine the Vatican June 26-27, called a consistory.

It wasn't the first clip Pope Leo has spoken retired against the warfare successful Iran. He has issued repeated appeals for bid and speech since the conflict began successful February.

Aboard the level connected Saturday, Leo besides weighed successful connected the warfare successful Ukraine, particularly aft Russian President Vladimir Putin precocious refused to meet pinch Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. "I americium worried for Ukraine," Leo said. "We must really push to scope an extremity to the conflict and the warfare and find a solution," he added, calling for continued negotiations.

"Already, 4 years and a half person passed. We must scope a solution," he said, recognizing the United States' efforts to mediate a peace.

The pope besides said he is successful interaction pinch belief leaders successful Lebanon, whom he met erstwhile he visited the state successful November. "The business is very complex," he said, arsenic Israel continues its violative successful the confederate portion of the country.

This communicative was produced via a collaboration betwixt BERITAJA and Religion News Service.