As the Church prepares to mark the World Day of Peace on January 1, Pope Leo XIV has issued a sobering and spiritually challenging appeal to a world increasingly shaped by fear, militarization, and the normalization of war. In his first Message for the annual observance, the Pope calls Catholics and all people of goodwill to rediscover a peace that does not rely on weapons or threats, but on conversion of heart, dialogue, and moral courage.
According to Vatican News, Pope Leo XIV frames his message around the greeting of the Risen Christ — “Peace be with you!” — emphasizing that these words are not merely a polite wish, but a force capable of transforming those who receive them. He writes that Christian peace is not passive or naïve, but active and demanding, precisely because it refuses to accept violence as inevitable.
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The Pope identifies fear as a driving force behind modern conflicts, warning that when peace is no longer lived or protected, societies become susceptible to narratives that portray war as necessary or unavoidable. He cautions that political justifications for rearmament often rely on fear rather than trust, stating that “the idea of the deterrent power of military might, especially nuclear deterrence, is based on the irrationality of relations between nations,” which are shaped by domination rather than justice and law.
Drawing on the teachings of Saint John XXIII, Pope Leo XIV notes that humanity continues to live “in the grip of constant fear,” aware that catastrophic weapons already exist and that war could erupt unexpectedly. He underscores the moral weight of current priorities by citing global military spending, which, according to the Message, rose by 9.4 percent in 2024 to reach $2.7 trillion — resources devoted to instruments of death rather than human development.
The Pope also warns of a cultural shift in which preparation for war is considered responsible, while disarmament is dismissed as unrealistic. He writes, “When peace is not a reality that is lived, cultivated and protected, then aggression spreads into domestic and public life,” eroding diplomacy and weakening international law.
Addressing emerging technologies, Pope Leo XIV raises grave concerns about artificial intelligence being integrated into military decision-making. He describes this trend as a “destructive betrayal of the legal and philosophical principles of humanism,” particularly when machines are given authority over life-and-death decisions driven by economic and strategic interests.
At the heart of the Message is a renewed call to Gospel nonviolence. Pope Leo XIV reminds the faithful that “the peace of the risen Jesus is unarmed,” noting that Christ’s struggle unfolded within real political and social circumstances without resorting to force. He recalls Jesus’ command to His disciples — “Put your sword back into its sheath” — and urges Christians to confront their own historical complicity in violence.
Reflecting on the mystery of the Incarnation, the Pope observes that goodness itself can be disarming in a world obsessed with domination. “Perhaps this is why God became a child,” he suggests, pointing to Bethlehem as a revelation of divine power expressed through vulnerability.
The Message stresses that true disarmament must begin within the human person. Citing Saint John XXIII, Pope Leo XIV insists that unless disarmament reaches “people’s very souls,” the arms race will never end. He writes that “true peace cannot consist in the possession of an equal supply of armaments but only in mutual trust.”
Finally, Pope Leo XIV calls on political leaders to renew their commitment to diplomacy, mediation, and international law, lamenting the erosion of treaties and global institutions. Peace, he insists, is not a fantasy but a deliberate choice — personal, communal, and political.
The Message concludes with a note of hope, recalling the biblical vision of swords turned into ploughshares. In this Jubilee of Hope, Pope Leo XIV invites the world to embrace what he calls a “disarmament of heart, mind and life,” reminding believers that peace is already present and waiting to be welcomed.
“Peace exists; it wants to dwell within us,” the Pope writes. “The task is not to create it, but to welcome it, and to allow it to disarm us.”
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