Cardinal Parolin on the war in Ukraine: Weapons can and must fall silent

Cardinal Pietro Parolin. Photo: Vatican website

In an interview with the Italian newspaper La Stampa, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Vatican, commented on the situation surrounding peace talks between Ukraine and Russia in Istanbul and shared his thoughts on the importance of maintaining dialogue. The Vatican’s official website reported on the interview.

When asked what the next steps should have been after the failed negotiations in Istanbul, Cardinal Parolin emphasized that this failure “cannot and must not mark the end of efforts to stop the war.”

The Vatican, he said, urges people not to fall into “false realism that views war as inevitable.”

“No war is inevitable, no peace is impossible. Weapons can and must fall silent to make room for the hope of peace,” he said, stressing that even if the meeting in Istanbul may seem like a failure, he hopes it could become the first step toward peace.

Commenting on the words of Pope Leo calling for a “just and lasting” peace in Ukraine, Parolin explained their meaning: “There is no true peace if it is only the result of imposed solutions or mutual fear. True peace arises from deep, respectful, and serious dialogue.”

Parolin emphasized that peace must protect the dignity of all parties involved, “without humiliation, without conditions that leave open wounds.”

For peace to be lasting, he continued, it must be “founded on solid principles of international law, justice, and freedom, not on fragile balances maintained by arms.”

Speaking separately about the increase in military spending in Europe, Cardinal Parolin expressed concern over destabilization: “While it is legitimate and necessary for each country to safeguard sovereignty and security, we must ask to what extent military buildup fosters trust among nations and helps build lasting peace.”

He warned that excessive stockpiling of weapons “risks fueling the arms race and feeding fear,” potentially leading to “dramatic consequences for all.”

“The right to self-defense is not absolute,” the cardinal stated. “It must be accompanied by the duty to minimize, and if possible, eliminate, the root causes of conflict.”

As the UOJ previously reported, Pope Leo had earlier called for support of “any initiative for dialogue and peace” in Ukraine.

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