War is back in fashion, harshly warned Pope Leo XIV from Vatican City, as he condemned the military incursions by the United States, Russia, and other countries into the territories of sovereign nations, which he accused of “completely undermining” peace and the international legal order.
In his message, the pontiff stated that “War is back in fashion” and lamented that some governments resort to force as a regular foreign policy tool. Without mentioning specific operations, he alluded to recent and prolonged interventions in regions such as the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and parts of Africa, where conflicts between powers and local actors have left thousands dead, displaced, and severe damage to civilian infrastructure.
The Pope stressed that these actions cannot be justified with arguments of preventive security, the fight against terrorism, or the protection of minorities, when carried out without a clear mandate from multilateral organizations and outside the bounds of international humanitarian law.
Impact on the international legal order and sovereignty
Leo XIV recalled that the United Nations Charter prohibits the use of force against the territorial integrity and political independence of States, except in cases of self-defense or with the express authorization of the Security Council. He warned that when major powers carry out unilateral military incursions, it opens the door to a scenario where “the law of the strongest replaces the strength of the law.”
For the pontiff, the phrase “War is back in fashion” reflects a dangerous normalization of language and warlike practices, ranging from the increase in global military spending to the proliferation of joint exercises and the modernization of nuclear and conventional arsenals.
Recent background of questioned interventions
In recent years, human rights organizations and security experts have placed military operations under scrutiny, such as:
- Interventions in Middle Eastern countries under the argument of combating terrorism.
- Actions in disputed territories of Eastern Europe, with accusations of sovereignty violation and de facto annexations.
- Operations using drones and special forces in States where there is no formal declaration of war.
The Pope’s message aligns with multiple UN resolutions and calls to respect sovereignty, protect the civilian population, and prioritize diplomatic solutions.
War is back in fashion: a call for a new ethical consensus
Leo XIV insisted that if War is back in fashion in state speeches and decisions, it is urgently necessary to rebuild a minimum ethical consensus that places human dignity and the protection of the most vulnerable at the center. He demanded that the powers halt military incursions and strengthen mechanisms for mediation, diplomatic sanctions, and international justice before opting for the use of force.
International policy analysts point out that pronouncements like this can influence global public opinion and increase pressure on governments maintaining armed operations abroad. For observer countries, including the Dominican Republic, the message reinforces the importance of defending international legality in multilateral forums.
Responsibility of States in a context where war is back in fashion
In closing his address, the Pope reiterated that “no economic, geopolitical, or ideological interest can justify bombing cities, displacing entire populations, or manipulating hunger as a weapon.” And he warned that while War is back in fashion, the international community faces the challenge of choosing between permanent escalation or the strengthening of an order based on rules, dialogue, and effective respect for the sovereignty of peoples.
