Pope says 'there is no such thing as a holy war' in message to religious leaders
ROME — Pope Leo XIV on Tuesday denounced any religious justification for wars raging around the world, saying “there is no such thing as a holy war.” “Only peace is holy,” Leo said in a video-message to a gathering of religious leaders in the Italian hilltop town of Assisi. The American pope was supposed to have presided over the gathering in person, but had to cancel his participation as he…
In a video message addressed to religious leaders, Pope Leo XIV strongly condemned the notion of holy wars, reaffirming that only peace holds true sanctity. The pontiff, who was recuperating from lung cancer surgery, delivered the message via video while in Italy, unable to attend the gathering in person. The event, held in Assisi, a town steeped in history and revered as the birthplace of St. Francis, brought together a diverse assembly of religious leaders, including the Archbishop of Canterbury, spiritual head of the Anglican Communion, as well as representatives from various faiths, including Muslim, Buddhist and other Christian leaders.
The gathering marked the 40th anniversary of a significant interfaith peace meeting initiated by St. John Paul II, a gathering that faced controversy due to its unprecedented act of interfaith prayers. The pope's message was a stark reminder against the resurgence of religious justifications for ongoing global conflicts.
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