Pope Leo delivered a strong annual foreign policy speech on Friday, condemning the use of military force to achieve diplomatic goals. He also called for the protection of human rights in Venezuela.
The first US pope expressed concern over the weakness of international organizations in addressing global conflicts. He said that diplomacy based on dialogue and consensus is being replaced by a diplomacy grounded in force.
“War is back in vogue, and a zeal for war is spreading,” Pope Leo told about 184 ambassadors accredited to the Vatican. He emphasized that nations must prioritize dialogue over military action.
Focus on Venezuela
Referring to the recent capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by US forces on orders of former President Donald Trump, Pope Leo urged world governments to respect the will of the Venezuelan people. He highlighted the importance of safeguarding human and civil rights in Venezuela.
Both the US and Venezuelan ambassadors to the Holy See attended the address, which is sometimes described as the pope’s “state of the world” speech. This was the first such speech delivered by Pope Leo since his election in May, following the death of Pope Francis.
Fiery Tone on Global Issues
In his 43-minute address, Pope Leo also criticized ongoing global conflicts, abortion, euthanasia, and surrogate births. He warned that freedom of expression is “rapidly shrinking” in Western countries and highlighted growing ideological pressures that exclude dissenting voices.
The pope further criticized what he called a “subtle form of religious discrimination” faced by Christians in Europe and the Americas. Observers noted that the tone of this speech was firmer than Pope Leo’s previous addresses, signaling his willingness to speak out on global and moral issues.
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Pope Leo concluded by stressing that dialogue, respect for human rights, and global cooperation must replace force in modern diplomacy.
