Pope Leo XIV Warns of Growing ‘Zeal for War’

Pope Leo XIV has warned that respect for human rights and international law is eroding, saying the modern world is witnessing a dangerous resurgence of what he described as a “zeal for war,” Jurist News reported.

Speaking at the Vatican, the pontiff said the principle prohibiting the violation of sovereign borders has been undermined, lamenting that “war is back in vogue.” His remarks come amid heightened global tensions, including the ongoing Russia–Ukraine war and recent developments in Venezuela following a US-backed operation announced by President Donald Trump.

The Pope stressed that international humanitarian law must prevail over the ambitions of warring parties, warning that attacks on essential infrastructure amount to serious violations. He said the true moral standard should be the protection of human dignity, not military or strategic gains.

Calling for peace and inclusive dialogue, Pope Leo urged world leaders to respect the will of peoples affected by conflict and reaffirmed the Holy See’s readiness to support peace initiatives. He also cited rising instability in regions including East Asia, Africa’s Great Lakes, Haiti and Myanmar as further cause for concern.