Pope Leo urges Christian leaders who start wars to examine conscience
Pope Leo XIV has urged Christian political leaders responsible for armed conflicts to examine their conscience and seek spiritual accountability, saying those who initiate wars should reflect deeply on their actions and consider going to confession.
Speaking to priests on Friday, the pontiff raised questions about the moral responsibility of leaders who make decisions that lead to war.
“Do those Christians who bear grave responsibility in armed conflicts have the humility and courage to make a serious examination of conscience and to go to confession?” he asked.
The pope, formerly known as Robert Francis Prevost, made history last year by becoming the first American pontiff. His election was widely celebrated in his hometown of Chicago as well as by many who had worked with him during his long career in the Catholic Church.
Vocal stance against wars
Since becoming pope, Leo has repeatedly spoken out against ongoing conflicts around the world. He has criticised several wars, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine and more recent strikes involving the United States and Israel in Iran.
Although he did not mention any specific leaders during his latest remarks, the pope has previously criticised policies linked to the administration of Donald Trump, particularly on immigration.
He also took issue with comments by US Vice President JD Vance regarding the theological concept of ordo amoris and declined Trump’s invitation to join a proposed “Board of Peace”.
Both Vance and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio are Catholics, while Trump is Presbyterian.
Church’s position on war
The Catholic Church traditionally opposes war and evaluates armed conflicts through the centuries-old “just war” doctrine, which sets moral criteria to determine whether military action can be justified, such as responding to an unjust invasion.
Several American Catholic leaders have recently voiced criticism of the war involving Iran.
Robert McElroy said in a March 9 interview with his archdiocese newspaper that the conflict fails multiple just-war standards.
While acknowledging that Iran’s leadership has been “a brutal and repressive government that has spread terrorism throughout the world,” McElroy argued the war could not be justified because it was not a response to “an existing or imminent and objectively verifiable attack by Iran”.
He also said the objectives of the war remain unclear and questioned whether any potential benefits would outweigh the harm.
Another US church leader, Blase Cupich, criticised a social media post from the White House that combined footage from the Iran conflict with scenes from action movies.
Calling the video “sickening”, Cupich said it portrayed “a real war with real death and real suffering being treated like it’s a video game”.
Pope Leo’s remarks add to growing voices within the Catholic Church urging political leaders to weigh the moral and human consequences of war before making decisions that could cost lives.