Home · Faith · Oct 27 archive

Pope Leo XIV Denounces Religious Wars in Assisi Video Message

8:04 PM ETConfirmed

Faith Desk

In Short: Pope Leo XIV sent a video message to religious leaders in Assisi, Italy, denouncing religiously justified wars and calling for peace.

Pope Leo XIV sent a video message to religious leaders in Assisi, Italy, denouncing religiously justified wars and calling for peace. He emphasized that 'there is no such thing as a holy war; only peace is holy,' in a message marking the 40th anniversary of the International Meeting for Peace initiated by St. John Paul II.

The American pope was supposed to have presided over the gathering in person but canceled his participation due to recovering from lung cancer surgery. The video message was broadcast to delegates, including the Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally and other religious leaders.

Pope Leo XIV highlighted the need for dialogue and prayer, 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.'

He also emphasized that the world needs to reject 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. 'War can never be waged in the name of God,' he declared.

Pope Leo XIV paid tribute to St. John Paul II, who held the first Assisi meeting during the Cold War. He urged those gathered to remember his predecessor's call for peace and to continue promoting peace in the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi.

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.

Pope Leo XIV has often rejected all forms of religiously inspired violence since his election in 2025. He noted that the accumulation of arms strikes many as a suitable way of deterring potential adversaries from war, but this approach betrays the memory of the 20th century and the senseless slaughter of millions of human lives.

He appealed to those gathered to 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,' he said.

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."
• 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 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!"
• Pope Leo told Assisi there has been a “troubling revival of war as an instrument of international politics,” quoting his encyclical.

Sources

• Bozeman Daily Chroniclelink
• Ewtnnewslink
• Letters from Leolink
• Ottumwa Courierlink
• Richmond Registerlink
• Temple Daily Telegramlink
• Vaticannewslink
• Cruxnowlink
• Couriernewslink
• Kdhnewslink
• Thestarlink
• Clintonheraldlink
• Jonesborosunlink
• Mesabitribunelink
• Oskaloosalink
• WarpBeat — background on Pope Leo XIV Urges Peace in Yemen and Jordan link
• EWTN News — video link