Four years after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Holy See is again urging the world not to grow accustomed to war, but to confront it as a tragedy that wounds both humanity and the moral conscience of nations.
Speaking on February 24, 2026, at the 1554th Reinforced Meeting of the Permanent Council of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Archbishop Paul Gallagher delivered a clear and sobering message. Marking the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Vatican’s Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations reminded world leaders that “every war represents a moral and human failure,” according to Vatican News.
His words were not merely reflective but urgent. The Archbishop called on those in positions of authority to move beyond rhetoric and toward real solutions. “The Holy See urges all parties to demonstrate the necessary political courage to establish and maintain sincere and inclusive diplomatic channels that aim for a just and lasting peace,” he said, according to Vatican News.
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For Catholics, this language echoes the Church’s long-standing teaching that peace is not simply the absence of conflict, but the fruit of justice, truth, and respect for human dignity. Archbishop Gallagher stressed that goodwill alone is not enough. “Concrete steps must be taken” toward peace, he insisted, adding that leaders “must prioritize immediate humanitarian pauses alongside sustained diplomatic engagement, with the aim of translating goodwill into verifiable, lasting arrangements for peace,” according to Vatican News.
In a world weary of broken agreements and stalled negotiations, he underscored the importance of integrity in peacemaking. “Dialogue must be based on sincerity in negotiations and the faithful fulfilment of obligations,” he said, according to Vatican News.
The Holy See also sees a vital role for international institutions in rebuilding trust. Archbishop Gallagher noted that the OSCE can help facilitate dialogue, build confidence, and implement measures to restore security. At the same time, he affirmed that the Vatican is willing to assist any genuine efforts to end the suffering. The Holy See “stands ready to support any earnest diplomatic initiatives that place the human person and the alleviation of suffering at the heart of their efforts,” he said, according to Vatican News.
Central to the Archbishop’s appeal was a firm defense of international humanitarian law. Echoing concerns previously raised by Pope Leo XIV, he warned that respect for such law cannot shift according to military advantage or political convenience. International humanitarian law “must always prevail over the ambitions of belligerents, in order to mitigate the devastating effects of war, also with a view to reconstruction,” he said, quoting the Pope’s January 9 address to diplomats accredited to the Holy See, according to Vatican News.
For Catholic believers, the message is clear: the sacredness of human life is not negotiable. In closing, Archbishop Gallagher once more centered the conversation on the dignity of the human person. “While invoking the sacredness of human life and dignity, the Holy See calls upon all parties to act with urgency and compassion and to strive for a dialogue motivated by a sincere search for paths leading to peace,” he concluded, according to Vatican News.
As the war in Ukraine enters another year, the Church continues to remind the world that peace requires courage, truth, and a steadfast commitment to the protection of every human life.
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