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Pope Leo XIV Denounces Holy Wars in Assisi Peace Gathering

9:04 PM ETConfirmed

Faith Desk

In Short: Pope Leo XIV denounced religiously justified wars in a video message to religious leaders at the 40th anniversary of the Assisi peace meeting.

Pope Leo XIV denounced religiously justified wars in a video message to religious leaders at the 40th anniversary of the Assisi peace meeting, held in the Italian hilltop town of Assisi.

"There is no such thing as a holy war: only peace is holy," Pope Leo XIV said in a video message to the gathering.

The American pope, recovering from lung cancer surgery, was unable to attend the event in person and instead sent a video message.

The gathering included the Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally, spiritual leader of the worldwide Anglican Communion, as well as Muslim, Buddhist, and other Christian leaders.

The event marked the 40th anniversary of the landmark interfaith peace meeting called by St. John Paul II in 1986 during the Cold War.

Pope Leo XIV emphasized the need for dialogue and peace, stating, "The path of Assisi calls religious leaders to foster a climate of dialogue amongst the faithful and within society, so that the language of arrogance may give way to the language of peace, negotiation and understanding."

"War can never be waged in the name of God," Pope Leo XIV said, rejecting all forms of religiously inspired violence.

"Make us unarmed instruments of His peace," he added, appealing to God to touch the hearts of those who seek war and terrorism.

Pope Leo XIV also paid tribute to St. John Paul II and urged those gathered to remember his call for peace.

The pontiff, who canceled his trip to Assisi on medical advice, sent a video message to the meeting on Tuesday.

"There has been a troubling revival of war as an instrument of international politics," Pope Leo XIV said, citing his encyclical Magnifica Humanitas.

"An almost blind faith was placed in the ability of the markets to generate prosperity, democracy and stability. In reality, rather than automatically generating unity and peace, globalization has provoked fundamentalist, identity-based and nationalistic reactions," he explained.

What this adds

Background

What's confirmed

• Pope Leo XIV has denounced the religious justification for wars raging around the world, saying “there is no such thing as a holy war.”“Only peace is holy,” Leo said in a video-message to a gathering of religious leaders in the Italian hilltop town of Assisi.The American pope was supposed to have presided over the gathering in person, but had to cancel his participation as he recovers from Oct. 13 lung cancer surgery.Instead Leo sent a videotaped message that was broadcast to the delegates, who included the Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally, spiritual leader of the worldwide Anglican Communion, as well as Muslim, Buddhist and other Christian leaders.
• The Assisi gathering came as the Vatican is accelerating its humanitarian efforts for Ukraine following the entry into effect of a localized cease-fire in the devastated southern Ukrainian city of Oleshky.
• They were in Assisi, the birthplace of the peace-loving St. Francis, to mark the 40th anniversary of a landmark interfaith peace meeting called by St. John Paul II.
• “Precisely in these times marked by a culture of power, there is a need to cultivate the spirit of Assisi,” he said.
• Emphasizing that the world needs dialogue, the Pope said that "the path of Assisi calls religious leaders to foster a climate of dialogue amongst the faithful and within society, so that the language of arrogance may give way to the language of peace, negotiation and understanding," in order to "gradually lead humanity away from the cycle of violence."
• "make us unarmed instruments of His peace."
• "there is a need to cultivate the spirit of Assisi, which entails a rejection of the religious justification of war, a spirit of mediation and dialogue, and contemplative reflection combined with creative action in the service of a future of peace."
• "but it is the humble strength of believers."
• Thus, he appealed, "Let us turn to God, the giver of peace, that he may touch the hearts of those who seek war and terrorism. Let us not forget that prayer is never in vain."
• “There is no such thing as a holy war: only peace is holy,” Pope Leo XIV told religious leaders gathered in Assisi on Tuesday, in a video message marking 40 years since St. John Paul II’s World Day of Prayer for Peace.
• Pope Leo told Assisi there has been a “troubling revival of war as an instrument of international politics,” quoting his encyclical.
• The journey that began in Assisi as a shared quest for peace, he explained, is, first and foremost, "the path of prayer."

What's still developing

• The theme of the 3-day meeting that concludes today in the Umbrian hilltown where St.
• Benedict XV asked if Europe must be “swept along by a universal madness, into the abyss, towards a true and genuine suicide?” In the 21 st century, Pope Leo XIV did not specifically mention the First World War.
• The Vatican announced the cancellation on Oct. 23, adding that he would send a message for the event.
• Pope Leo XIV blesses faithful during an audience with participants of the Jesus Youth International Conference in the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican, Saturday, Oct.
• “Indeed, it grew more bitter and spread over land and sea, and even into the air, so that desolation and death descended upon defenseless cities, upon peaceful villages and upon their innocent inhabitants,” the World War I pope said.
• “After 1989 [when the Berlin Wall fell, marking the end of the Cold War], many believed that globalization would ensure lasting peace for the world,” he said.

Sources

• Crux: Covering all things Catholiclink
• Ewtnnewslink
• Vaticannewslink
• couriernews.comlink
• Ottumwacourierlink
• Kdhnewslink
• Thestarlink
• Clintonheraldlink
• Jonesborosunlink
• Bozemandailychroniclelink
• Mesabitribunelink
• Tdtnewslink
• Oskaloosalink
• Thelettersfromleolink
• Richmond Registerlink
• WarpBeat — background on Pope Leo XIV Urges Peace in Yemen and Jordan link
• EWTN News — video link