Pope Leo XIV rejects religious justification for war in Assisi peace message

A message in place of a trip

Pope Leo XIV was due to attend the Assisi gathering in person on Tuesday, 27 October, but cancelled the trip on medical advice while he recovers from surgery carried out on 13 October. He instead recorded a video message, which was shown to delegates at the meeting titled 'Unarmed and Disarming Peace'. The Community of Sant'Egidio organised the three-day event to mark 40 years since John Paul II convened the 1986 World Day of Prayer for Peace in Assisi. Among the delegates were the Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, along with Muslim, Buddhist and other Christian leaders.

No holy war, only peace

The pope rejected any religious justification for war, arguing that fighting in the name of religion in fact strikes at religion itself. He urged religious leaders and peoples to stop preparing for more wars and to rebuild peace in every place. In his translated words, the core demand was short and direct.

“We must rebuild peace everywhere, not prepare more wars. There is no holy war: only peace is holy.”

He also called for a spirit of mediation and dialogue, which he tied to the 'spirit of Assisi', and said that believers must reject religious legitimacy for war in what he called a culture of power. The message asked leaders to replace the language of arrogance with the language of peace, negotiation and understanding. He described prayer as the humble strength of believers, one that may look weak against the powers of the world, and asked for prayers for those who want war and terrorism.

Globalisation and a return to war

The pope recalled that the first Assisi meeting took place during the Cold War, a period, he said, very different from today. After 1989, he noted, many people believed globalisation would secure lasting peace for the world. He argued that globalisation did not automatically bring unity or peace, and instead fed fundamentalist, identity-based and nationalist reactions, a point he tied to his encyclical Magnifica humanitas, published in May. He described a worrying rehabilitation of war as a tool of international politics, and said that the idea of stockpiling weapons as the most effective way to deter conflict betrays the memory of the twentieth century. He also said too much hope had been placed in the ability of markets to create prosperity, democracy and security.

Assisi meeting and conflicts in the region

The gathering brought together 384 representatives of religions, cultures and institutions from 53 countries, according to Rai. Its programme included 24 round tables and 155 speakers, who discussed disarmament, the climate crisis, democracy and solidarity. Conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, and in Russia, drew particular attention, alongside crises across several African countries. Hala Al-karib, a participant and regional director of the SIHA Network, which documents human rights violations, described the situation in Sudan. By her account more than 250,000 civilians have died in the four years since that conflict began, while homes, churches, mosques and museums are looted and sexual violence has become more frequent.

Representatives384

Countries53

Round tables24

Speakers155

Representatives

384

Countries

53

Round tables

24

Speakers

155

Data from the article text

Attack in Jordan and the close of the meeting

Participants also referred to an attack on worshippers at the Orthodox Church of St George in Harmoud, Karak, Jordan, which reports said had caused deaths and injuries. The pope said he was close to that community and to the entire country.

“I am close to that community and to the entire country.”

Participants had also recalled the pope's earlier Angelus appeal to keep praying for peace. Rai reported that the meeting concluded in Assisi on 27 October, the third day of its programme.