Overview
- Addressing ambassadors at the Vatican, Leo warned that “war is back in vogue” and argued that the turn to military power is eroding the rule of law and multilateral norms.
- He urged respect for the will of the Venezuelan people and the safeguarding of civil and human rights following the U.S. operation that captured President Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores on January 3.
- The pope called for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine and emphasized adherence to international humanitarian law, while reiterating support for a two‑state solution and noting rising violence in the West Bank and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
- He cautioned that the United Nations’ consensus‑based role is weakening and warned of renewed risks from advanced weapons, including AI‑enabled systems and a potential return to a nuclear arms race as New START’s expiration approaches.
- Delivered largely in English, the wide‑ranging speech was reported as a pointed critique of recent U.S., Russian and other cross‑border military actions without naming specific countries.