‘..The malaise of youth asks: “What kind of world are we leaving behind?”. A world, sadly, crippled by wars and the rhetoric of war. This is a pollution of reason, which, from the geopolitical level, invades every social relationship. The simplification that creates enemies must therefore be corrected, especially in universities, through an appreciation of complexity and the wise exercise of memory. In particular, the tragedy of the twentieth century must not be forgotten. The cry, “Never again war!”, of my Predecessors, so in keeping with the rejection of war enshrined in the Italian Constitution, spurs us on to a spiritual alliance with the sense of justice that dwells in the hearts of young people, with their vocation not to shut themselves away behind ideologies and national borders. For example, over the past year, the increase in military spending worldwide, and particularly in Europe, has been enormous: let us not call “defence” a rearmament that increases tensions and insecurity, depletes investment in education and health, undermines trust in diplomacy, and enriches elites who care nothing for the common good’.
The pope has had a high profile during the war against Iran (particularly since Holy Week) but these forthright words got very little coverage, even among faith communities in the UK. Just read over his words: there’s an uncompromising rejection of war (recalling in particular St John Paul II’s condemnation of the wars against Iraq), a clear denunciation of rearmament policies all over Europe (including the UK) and a swipe at ‘elites who care nothing for the common good’; he is also unafraid to dip his toe into Italian politics by referring to the constitution of the republic.
It has perhaps been relatively easy for Catholics and other Christians to support Pope Leo in the exchange of words between the Holy See and the US Federal Government, especially since the war against Iran has enjoyed very little public support. However, the political consensus all over Europe that in the face of the aggression of the Russian Federation and the determination of the Trump administration to reduce its support of NATO our nations need to increase dramatically spending on weaponry and armed services means that for Catholics to support what the pope has said is going to be more demanding: in fact, there are few signs that it is happening.
A good example was set by the Catholic bishops in England and Wales at their meeting at Pallazola after Easter when they said:
‘We stand in solidarity with the Holy Father in his sustained witness and unshakeable commitment to the Gospel of Peace. We embrace our responsibility to act as bridge-builders and peacemakers and call upon the faithful, whom we serve in the dioceses of England and Wales, to join us in redoubling our prayers and advocacy for peace and justice. We pray that the leaders of all peoples at war open their minds and hearts to the dialogue and encounter necessary to attain a peace which disarms and endures’[2].
Hopefully this will encourage all the churches to oppose specifically rearmament proposals – but that’s not just a task for bishops. All of us can challenge our MPs.
It is difficult, as people naturally want to defend their countries and the innocent against aggression; the instincts of democracies in Europe to want to support the people of Ukraine have shown Europe at its best. Moreover it is natural that those of us who care about European unity (and want the UK to be fully part of Europe again) will see the building up of a common European defence policy (and perhaps common armed forces, as was unsuccessfully explored in the 1950s) as a good way to advance this, especially as the ‘European project’, so often not understood, rests on a search for reconciliation and peace in Europe. But it’s fool’s gold: you cannot bring about peace and reconciliation by arming yourselves to the teeth and by threats to kill. This is partly why the Catholic Church, more resolutely than ever, opposes the false doctrine of nuclear deterrence.[3] We are so easily taken in by what Pope Leo calls ‘the rhetoric of war.’ We have been here before: in the First World War nearly all Christian leaders in Europe supported their countries’ war efforts, and often persecuted Christians who opposed the war. The big exception was the Vicar of Christ, Pope Benedict XV, who would have none of it: and he was repeatedly ignored and marginalised.
Why is all this important for those involved in pastoral ministry and education? Read the whole of Pope Leo’s message to the young students of Rome. He wants to ensure that they are not taken in by what he calls the ‘pollution of reason’ undergirding Europe’s rearmament. It should be our aim too as we try to support young people in our parishes, schools and universities.
Footnotes
[1] Pastoral Visit to Sapienza University in Rome: Meeting with Professors and Students (14 May 2026)
[2] Bishops invite all people to work for peace and justice and ask Catholics to join them in ‘redoubling’ prayers – Catholic Bishops’ Conference
[3] See, for example, Benedict XVI’s first World Peace Day Message, 39th World Day of Peace 2006, In Truth, Peace
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