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Pope Leo XIV Denounces Holy Wars in Assisi Peace Message

1:10 PM ETConfirmed

Faith Desk

In Short: Pope Leo XIV sent a video message to the 40th anniversary of the International Meeting for Peace in Assisi, Italy, denouncing religiously justified wars and calling for dialogue and peace.

Pope Leo XIV sent a video message to the 40th anniversary of the International Meeting for Peace in Assisi, Italy, denouncing religiously justified wars and calling for dialogue and peace. The American pope, who was recovering from lung cancer surgery, could not attend the event in person.

In his message, Pope Leo XIV said, 'There is no such thing as a holy war. Only peace is holy.' He emphasized that religious leaders should foster a climate of dialogue and understanding, rejecting the language of arrogance and violence.

The meeting, which began in 1986 during the Cold War, was initiated by Pope John Paul II as an interreligious prayer service for peace. This year's gathering included the Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally and leaders from various religious backgrounds.

Pope Leo XIV also cited his encyclical Magnifica Humanitas and paid tribute to St. John Paul II, urging those gathered to continue promoting peace in the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi, whose 800th anniversary of death is this year.

The pontiff highlighted the need to cultivate the spirit of Assisi, which entails rejecting the religious justification of war, embracing mediation and dialogue, and engaging in contemplative reflection combined with creative action for peace.

Pope Leo XIV noted that the path of Assisi is first and foremost 'the path of prayer,' and appealed to those gathered to turn to God, the giver of peace, to touch the hearts of those who seek war and terrorism.

The pope's message 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.

Pope Leo XIV has often rejected all forms of religiously inspired violence since his election in 2025, emphasizing the importance of dialogue and multilateralism in resolving conflicts.

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.
• “May [God] make us unarmed instruments of his peace. ‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.’” You can unsubscribe from these communications at any time.
• “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,” Leo said.
• Citing his encyclical Magnifica Humanitas and paying tribute to St. John Paul II, Leo urged those gathered to continue promoting peace in the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi, whose 800th anniversary of death is this year.
• 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.
• 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.
• “Precisely in these times marked by a culture of power, there is a need to cultivate the spirit of Assisi,” he said.
• "War can never be waged in the name of God. For us believers, 'to fight in the name of religion means attacking religion itself.' There is no such thing as a holy war: only peace is holy."

What's still developing

• The Vatican announced the cancellation on Oct. 23, adding that he would send a message for the event.
• The theme of the 3-day meeting that concludes today in the Umbrian hilltown where St.
• "the common ideal of all peoples, the guiding star for all our choices, the standard that exposes injustice, and the shared horizon for all."
• "but it is the humble strength of believers."
• "I would very much like to have been with you at the tomb of Saint Francis on this important anniversary, to see your faces and bear witness together to the fact that living as brothers and sisters is already possible!"
• "gradually lead humanity away from the cycle of violence."
• “War can never be waged in the name of God.” The pontiff, originally scheduled to travel to Assisi for the gathering, canceled his trip on his doctors’ advice, as he continues to recover from thoracic surgery performed on Oct.

Sources

• Clinton Heraldlink
• Ewtnnewslink
• Marietta Daily Journallink
• Ottumwa Courierlink
• The Killeen Daily Heraldlink
• Toronto Starlink
• Vaticannewslink
• couriernews.comlink
• WarpBeat — background on Pope Leo XIV Urges Peace in Yemen and Jordan link
• WarpBeat — background on Pope Leo XIV Urges Peace in Yemen and Beyond link
• EWTN News — video link