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Pope Leo XIV Warns Against Using God to Justify War
Confirmed
In Short: During his final day in France on Monday (Sept. 28), Pope Leo XIV warned against using God to justify war, emphasizing that such actions profane the divine name.
During his final day in France on Monday (Sept. 28), Pope Leo XIV warned against using God to justify war, emphasizing that such actions profane the divine name. Speaking at an interreligious gathering in Metz, the pope stated, 'To invoke God’s name in order to justify violence or oppression is to profane that name. Nothing that disfigures human dignity can claim to be inspired by God.
Pope Leo XIV, who has made peace a central theme of his pontificate, highlighted the ongoing conflicts, particularly in Europe. He said, 'Today, sadly, war has returned, even to Europe: a new ‘senseless slaughter,’ claiming countless civilian lives every day.' His remarks came shortly after Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with his German counterpart at the United Nations General Assembly.
The pope called for a commitment to dialogue and negotiation, urging people to be willing to give up some positions for the greater good of peace. He emphasized the role of religions as guardians of life, stating, 'Religions are guardians of life, and their fruitfulness is in their loving presence alongside those who are most vulnerable and fragile.
Pope Leo XIV chose Metz for his message, a city with significant historical ties to the founding of the European Union. Robert Schuman, one of the founding architects of the European Union, spent many years in Metz, adding a layer of symbolic importance to the pope’s visit.
The pope’s visit to Metz also comes at a time when relations between Russia and Germany remain strained since the start of the war in Ukraine in 2022. The city’s historical and political significance provided a fitting backdrop for the pope’s message of peace and dialogue.
What this adds
The pope’s emphasis on peace and dialogue underscores the ongoing tensions and conflicts in Europe, particularly in light of the war in Ukraine.
What's confirmed
- METZ, France (RNS) – Pope Leo XIV once again stressed that God does not promote war and called for the protection of human dignity and life, during the last day of his papal visit to France on Monday (Sept. 28).
- “To invoke God’s name in order to justify violence or oppression is to profane that name. Nothing that disfigures human dignity can claim to be inspired by God,” Leo said during an interreligious gathering at the Robert Schuman Conference Center in Metz.
- “We need to commit ourselves to patient dialogue, to show courage in negotiation and to be willing to give up some positions for the greater good of peace,” the pope said.
- “Religions are guardians of life,” he added, and their fruitfulness is in their “loving presence alongside those who are most vulnerable and fragile.” The pope’s past remarks that God rejects war drew the ire of U.S.
- The pope chose Metz to deliver his message, acknowledging its roots and modern challenges.
- Pope Francis declared him venerable in 2021, initiating the Vatican process toward sainthood.
- The pope, who has made peace a central theme of his pontificate, said “today, sadly, war has returned, even to Europe: a new ‘senseless slaughter,’ claiming countless civilian lives every day.” Leo’s comments came only a day after Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with his German counterpart at the United Nations General Assembly.
What's still developing
- Nothing material beyond the confirmed record.