HOW POPE LEO APPEALS FOR END TO WAR: ‘HUMANITY CRIES OUT AND PLEADS FOR PEACE’, AI MUST HELP CHILDREN ... (951 hits)
For Immediate Release From Vatican News!
Pope Leo XIV appeals for an end to the tragedy of war, especially in the Middle East, and recalls that war only amplifies problems and creates deep wounds without providing lasting solutions. By Devin Watkins
“Alarming news continues to arrive from the Middle East, especially from Iran,” said Pope Leo on Sunday at the Angelus address.
The Holy Father’s words came just hours after US bombers struck nuclear sites in Iran, as Israel and Iran carry out strikes on each other’s territory.
“In this dramatic scenario, which includes Israel and Palestine,” continued the Pope, “the daily suffering of the population—especially in Gaza and other territories—risks being forgotten, even as the need for adequate humanitarian aid becomes ever more urgent.”
“Today more than ever, humanity cries out and pleads for peace,” he said.
The Pope said the cry for peace “demands responsibility and reason and must not be drowned out by the roar of weapons or by rhetorical words that incite conflict.”
Pope Leo urged every member of the international community to take up their moral responsibility to “stop the tragedy of war before it becomes an irreparable abyss.”
When human dignity is at stake, he said, no conflict is distant.
“War does not solve problems,” noted the Pope. “On the contrary, it amplifies them and causes deep wounds in the history of peoples—wounds that take generations to heal. No military victory can ever compensate for a mother’s pain, a child’s fear, or a stolen future.”
In conclusion, Pope Leo XIV expressed his hope for the din of arms to fall silent.
“Let diplomacy silence the weapons!” he said. “Let nations shape their future with works of peace, not through violence and bloody conflicts!”
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US Bishops: Promote Religious Freedom Through Prayer, Reflection, And Action
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops commemorate Religious Freedom Week, 22-29 June, inviting the faithful to promote religious freedom for all believers through prayer, education, and public action. By Christopher Wells
Beginning on 22 June, the feast of Sts John Fisher and and Thomas More, the Church in the United States marks Religious Freedom Week, which concludes on the Solemnity of Sts Peter and Paul, 29 June.
An initiative of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), Religious Freedom Week invites the faithful to promote “the essential right of religious freedom for Catholics and those of all faiths.”
'Witnesses To Hope'
The theme of this year’s observance, “Witnesses to Hope”, builds on the Conference's 2025 annual report on the state of religious liberty in the United States , which highlights “the impact of political polarization on religious freedom” as well as issues ranging from mandates for in vitro fertilization, threats to Catholic ministries serving migrants, and parental choice in education.
This year’s theme is connected to the ongoing Jubilee Year proclaimed by Pope Francis, says Bishop Thomas Paprocki, of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, who proposed the original Fortnight of Freedom, which has since evolved into Religious Freedom Week.
Taking inspiration from St Paul’s saying “hope does not disappoint”, Bishop Paprocki told Vatican News that hope “gives us confidence in the future and in terms of what God is promising in terms of eternal life.”
He explains that Religious Freedom Week is an invitation to Catholics to pray for religious liberty to be protected in the United States and around the world; to reflect on the meaning of religious liberty; and to take action in defence of freedom of religion. “So these three steps: pray, reflect, and act in ways that we can be witnesses to hope in terms of religious liberty.”
Freedom And Truth
In his interview with Vatican News, Bishop Paprocki says the question of religious liberty must be understood in terms of the Church’s teaching on freedom. Citing the teaching of Pope Saint John Paul II, the bishop explains that true freedom is related to truth, and must be distinguished from “license”, the capability of doing whatever one pleases.
“The Church has taught that liberty exists in order for us to be free to practice our faith, in order to pursue what is right and to be able to speak the truth”, says Bishop Paprocki.
He goes on to emphasize that “the flip side of the coin with regard to rights is obligations”, not just in the Church but also in “the civil context.” “It’s not just a question of our freedom and our rights, but we have obligations to be good citizens”, the Bishop says, “to help promote the common good and our nation, and to defend the freedom of our country.
Holy See Urges Nations To Ratify UN Anti-Landmine Convention
The Holy See has invited nations to ratify the Anti-Personnel Landmines Convention, upholding the link between development and disarmament.
By Devin Watkins
Archbishop Ettore Balestrero, the Holy See’s Permanent Observer to the United Nations in Geneva, spoke on Friday at the 2025 Intersessional Meeting of the Anti-Personnel Landmines Convention.
He expressed the Holy See’s congratulations for the Marshall Islands’ recent ratification of the landmine treaty, known as the Ottowa Convention, which was first proposed in Oslo in 1997 and entered into force in 1999.
Archbishop Balestrero upheld the goal of universal ratification of the Convention, saying it has the potential to greatly assist victims of landmines and prevent further casualties.
“The Holy See is deeply concerned about the intention of certain States Parties to withdraw from the Convention,” he said. “It calls upon all States that are not yet party to this noble legal instrument to adhere to it urgently and implement it promptly, in both letter and spirit.”
Pope: ‘St. Thomas More offers politicians example of martyr for primacy of conscience’
During the Jubilee of Governments, Pope Leo XIV meets with legislators from various nations and recalls the importance of natural law, entrusting them to St. Thomas More, whose "readiness to sacrifice his life rather than betray the truth makes him a martyr for freedom and for the primacy of conscience." By Deborah Castellano Lubov
"The courage St. Thomas More showed by his readiness to sacrifice his life rather than betray the truth makes him, also for us today, a martyr for freedom and for the primacy of conscience."
Pope Leo XIV made this observation about the 16th-century English saint and former Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain when addressing members of the International Inter-Parliamentary Union in the context of the Jubilee for Governments taking place this weekend in the Vatican.
Greeting the members of the delegations coming from 68 different countries, Pope Leo said politics has rightly been defined as “the highest form of charity.”
"If we consider the service that political life renders to society and to the common good," he said, "it can truly be seen as an act of Christian love, which is never simply a theory, but always a concrete sign and witness of God’s constant concern for the good of our human family."
In this regard, Pope Leo XIV delineated three considerations that he said he deems important in the current cultural context.
Promoting and protecting the good of the community
"The first," he noted, "concerns your responsibility to promote and protect, independent of any special interest, the good of the community, particularly by defending the vulnerable and the marginalized." He added that this would include, for example, "working to overcome the unacceptable disproportion between the immense wealth concentrated in the hands of a few and the world’s poor."
"Those who live in extreme conditions cry out to make their voices heard, and often find no ears willing to hear their plea," he decried, observing, "This imbalance generates situations of persistent injustice, which readily lead to violence and, sooner or later, to the tragedy of war."
Pope Urges Church To Foster A Culture That Does Not Tolerate Abuse
Pope Leo XIV sends a message on the occasion of a Peruvian theatre performance honouring investigative journalist Paola Ugaz, and calls for a culture that does not tolerate any kind of abuse in the Church and for the defence of press freedom. He praises journalists who expose abuse, stating that silencing them threatens democracy and undermines the Gospel's call for justice and truth. By Salvatore Cernuzio
In a message against all forms of abuse, Pope Leo XIV has called for a cultural transformation within the Catholic Church.
“[It is necessary to] radicate throughout the Church a culture of prevention that does not tolerate any form of abuse: abuse of power or authority, of conscience or spirituality, of s*xual abuse”, he writes.
His words were read at the performance of the theatrical production Proyecto Ugaz, currently running in Lima, Peru. The play honours investigative journalist Paola Ugaz, known for her reporting on the now-suppressed Sodalitium, and who has faced sustained harassment for her work.
Drawing on Ugaz's example, the Pope issued a firm defence of press freedom: “Wherever a journalist is silenced, the democratic soul of a nation is weakened.”
The Pope’s message centres on two key themes that underlie the theatrical production: the fight against abuse and the essential role of truthful, independent journalism. Proyecto Ugaz highlights Ugaz’s years-long investigation into the Sodalitium Cristianae Vitae, a powerful lay movement in Latin America that Pope Francis formally suppressed on April 14 due to multiple allegations of abuse and corruption, including against its founder, Luis Figari. A Vatican investigation concluded the group lacked any foundational charism.
Pope Leo: AI Must Help And Not Hinder Children And Young People's Development
When faced with the "exceptional product of human genius" which is artificial intelligence, Pope Leo XIV warns it raises pressing questions, must never forget human dignity, and cannot interfere with the proper human and neurological development of young people and children. By Deborah Castellano Lubov
"AI, especially Generative AI, has opened new horizons on many different levels, including enhancing research in healthcare and scientific discovery, but also raises troubling questions on its possible repercussions on humanity’s openness to truth and beauty, on our distinctive ability to grasp and process reality. "
Pope Leo XIV made this observation in his message to the Second Annual Rome Conference on Artificial Intelligence which was published on Friday. He noted their presence "attests to the urgent need for serious reflection and ongoing discussion on the inherently ethical dimension of AI, as well as its responsible governance," and expressed he was pleased that the second day of the Conference takes place in the Apostolic Palace, "a clear indication of the Church’s desire to participate in these discussions that directly affect the present and future of our human family."
"Together with its extraordinary potential to benefit the human family, the rapid development of AI, the Pope warned, "also raises deeper questions" concerning the proper use of such technology in generating a more authentically just and human global society.
Exceptional Product Of Human Genius, But Remains A Tool
While AI is "undoubtedly an exceptional product of human genius," he underscored, as Pope Francis did in the past, that AI, is, “above all else, 'a tool.'”
Acknowledging and respecting what is uniquely characteristic of the human person is essential to the discussion of any adequate ethical framework for the governance of AI.
"All of us, I am sure, are concerned for children and young people, and the possible consequences of the use of AI on their intellectual and neurological development."
“All of us, I am sure, are concerned for children and young people, and the possible consequences of the use of AI on their intellectual and neurological development.”
"Our youth," he insisted, "must be helped, and not hindered, in their journey towards maturity and true responsibility," underscoring they "are our hope for the future."
"Society’s well-being," he also underscored, "depends upon their being given the ability to develop their God-given gifts and capabilities, and to respond to the demands of the times and the needs of others with a free and generous spirit."
No Matter How Extensive, Must Not Be Confused With Intelligence
No generation, the Holy Father acknowledged, has ever had such quick access to the amount of information now available through AI. "But again, access to data — however extensive, must not be confused with intelligence, which necessarily “involves the person’s openness to the ultimate questions of life and reflects an orientation toward the True and the Good.”
While AI has been used in positive and indeed noble ways to promote greater equality, Pope Leo still warned of "the possibility of its misuse for selfish gain at the expense of others, or worse, to foment conflict and aggression."
Weighing Ramifications of AI
For its part, he said, the Church wishes to contribute to a serene and informed discussion of these pressing questions by stressing above all the need to weigh the ramifications of AI in light of the “integral development of the human person and society.”
"This entails," the Pope stressed, "taking into account the well-being of the human person not only materially, but also intellectually and spiritually. It means safeguarding the inviolable dignity of each human person and respecting the cultural and spiritual riches and diversity of the world’s peoples."
"Ultimately, the benefits or risks of AI must be evaluated precisely according to this superior ethical criterion," he said, warning against societies today experiencing a certain "loss" or "at least an eclipse" of what is human, and saying this "challenges all of us to reflect more deeply on the true nature and uniqueness of our shared human dignity."
Youth Must Be Helped, Not Hindered By AI
In the end, the Pope highlighted that "authentic wisdom has more to do with recognizing the true meaning of life, than with the availability of data."
In this light, the Holy Father expressed his hope that the Conference's deliberations "will also consider AI within the context of the necessary intergenerational apprenticeship that will enable young people to integrate truth into their moral and spiritual life, thus informing their mature decisions and opening the path towards a world of greater solidarity and unity."
Finally, Pope Leo concluded, "The task set before you is not easy, but it is one of vital importance."
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Pope Leo: So Many Innocent Lives Are Being Lost To War
At the end of his visit to the Santa Maria di Galeria Transmission Center, Pope Leo XIV emphasizes in an interview with Italy's Tg1 news the vital role Vatican Radio continues to play, especially in reaching remote areas. By Alessandro De Carolis
Just past the gates of the Santa Maria di Galeria Center — where he had spent part of the morning exploring the technology behind more than 90 years of Vatican Radio broadcasting — Pope Leo XIV paused for a few minutes to speak with Vatican correspondent Ignazio Ingrao. He took the opportunity to once again call for peace in a world increasingly overwhelmed by the violence of war.
“I want to renew this appeal for peace. We must do everything possible to avoid the use of weapons,” the Pope said. Instead, he called for dialogue “through diplomatic means” and stressed the need for a collective effort to “find solutions” to the tragedy of “so many innocent people who are dying.”
Vatican Radio — Always a “Good Word”
Pope Leo also reflected both on the history and future of Vatican Radio's shortwave transmission center — established in 1957 by Pope Pius XII and now set to play a role in confronting the challenges of climate change.
During Pope Leo's visit, the Press Office note stated, he inquired about the operation of the antennas, broadcasts, and the digital disaster recovery system. During Pope Leo's visit, the Press Office note stated, he inquired about the operation of the antennas, broadcasts, and the digital disaster recovery system. (ANSA) “I wasn’t familiar with this center nor with the Vatican Radio antennas.,” he shared, noting how valuable the station had been to him personally during his time as a missionary in Latin America. With a small radio, he had often tuned into Vatican Radio’s shortwave broadcasts, “even in the mountains where there was no other access.”
The same was true in Africa, where, as a leader of the Augustinian order, he traveled to many countries. “At night,” the Pope recalled, “I would always find the news — a good word from this truly important service that is Vatican Radio.”
The Solar Energy Project — A Global Example
Now, the Santa Maria di Galeria Center is moving forward along the path laid out by Pope Francis, who one year ago, with the motu proprio Fratello Sole, directed that the site be equipped with an agrivoltaic system (solar panels) to help achieve energy self-sufficiency for the Vatican.
For Pope Leo XIV, this represents “a wonderful opportunity” and a clear “commitment from the Church” to provide “an example to the world — one that is very important.” He emphasized that we are all aware of the effects of climate change, and we must truly care for the entire world, for all of creation, “as Pope Francis has taught so clearly.”
