Overview
- In his Jan. 9 audience with the Vatican diplomatic corps, he said “war is back in fashion,” warned the post‑1945 ban on violating borders has been broken, and decried the shift from dialogue‑based multilateralism to diplomacy rooted in force.
- Citing Venezuela after the U.S. operation that captured Nicolás Maduro and transferred him to New York, he urged respect for the Venezuelan people’s will and solutions free of partisan objectives.
- He identified drug trafficking as a principal driver of Venezuela’s crisis and called for coordinated international action alongside investment in education, jobs and human development.
- On Ukraine, he appealed for an immediate ceasefire and said the Holy See stands ready to support initiatives that protect vulnerable people and advance a just peace.
- Addressing Gaza, he reaffirmed support for a two‑state outcome and insisted on safeguarding Palestinians’ rights to live in their own land.